President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi discussed with other African leaders the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and its impacts on the continent, as well as possible means to end the crisis before the Group of 20 (G-20) emergency virtual summit scheduled on Thursday.

During the Thursday multilateral African conversation – also virtual – the leaders agreed to establish a joint fund dedicated to provide the required resources for combating the spread of the Covid-19 and limiting its economic impacts on Africa. 

Al-Sisi stressed Egypt’s commitment to provide the needed financial support to the proposed fund and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

African leaders also agreed to form a working group under the African Union to exchange data and information related to Covid-19. 

Meanwhile, the Egyptian president called on G-20 countries to suspend or cancel debt payments for African nations, so that they can have enough liquidity to tackle the Covid-19 impacts.