DR Congo President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo has pledged to, among others, address the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which he said, has disproportionately affected the lives and livelihoods of the African people.

Tshisekedi was speaking on Saturday, February 6, at the ongoing 34th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly, as he officially succeeded South Africa President, Cyril Ramaphosa from the organization’s top position.

President Paul Kagame was among the Heads of State who attended the virtual meeting, during which he presented a progress report on the Institutional Reform of the African Union as well as an update on domestic health financing.

"Despite country and continent-wide control measures, the impact of Covid -19 has imposed enormous human, financial and socio-economic costs on the African People,” Tshisekedi said,

"This crisis, however, also gives us the chance to re-examine our socio-economic priorities and work towards a sustainable and inclusive economic growth which allows African women and girls to contribute to our societies to the fullest.”

In his remarks, the DR Congo head of state called on African leaders to embrace unity, as part of the efforts to build the ‘Africa we want’.

"To that end, the Democratic Republic of Congo, during its term as President of the African Union, has chosen to elevate African voices. We will focus on sustainable development by and for the African People. We will work to ensure their integral well-being, peace and security, health care and strong response against Covid-19, as well as food security.”

Other key areas include agricultural transformation, education, gender equality, climate justice and the free movement of people and goods.

Consequently, Tshisekedi vowed to prioritize freedom of speech and religion, as well as the enhancement of our common heritage: languages, and memorial sites of the history of African people, will also be at the centre of our agenda.

"For all of us, the Covid-19 outbreak has been a stark reminder that viruses and diseases know no borders. This is why I will work with AU leadership to make Primary and Universal Healthcare and immunization key pillars of our action in the year to come.”

He added; "Our commitment to protecting all Africans from disease, and to eradicate disease, as we have done with wild polio in Africa, must sit Centre stage in our vision for a prosperous African Union at the service of the People. Because there is no prosperity or well-being without health.”