Press Release Nº258/2014

African Union Commissioner Meets with the President of the Republic of Liberia H.E Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in Monrovia

Monrovia, Liberia –6 October 2014: The African Union Commissioner for Social Affairs H. E. Dr. Mustapha SidikiKaloko, accompanied by the Head of Mission of the African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) Dr Julius Oketta and AU Representatives to Liberia and Sierra Leone Ambassador Harrison Solaja, on Saturday 4 October 2014 briefed the President of the Republic of Liberia H.E Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf on the African Union interventions in the fight against Ebola. The Commissioner told the President that his visit was to support the implementation of various decisions of the African Union that led to the deployment of a team of health experts to Liberia with the aim of complementing the efforts of the Government of Liberia and other partners in the fight against Ebola. He further explained steps being taken by the AU Commission to get Member States to rescind travel restrictions imposed on the affected countries. He emphasized the urgent need to open all borders to ease the humanitarian difficulties by ensuring the unhindered movements of people, including health personnel, commodities and food supplies to the three countries.

In response, President Johnson-Sirleaf expressed appreciation with the role the AU is playing under the leadership of the African Union Commission Chairperson, HE Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma in the fight against Ebola. She welcomed the deployment of AU medical team and AU decisions that called upon Member States to lift travel restrictions imposed on the affected countries. The President underlined the need for proper coordination among all humanitarian actors on the ground and pointed out that her Government has put in place proper structures to facilitate the coordination of the exercise. “With effective collaboration, Ebola will be a thing of the past” President optimistically told the AU delegation.

Commissioner Kaloko also met and briefed the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General (SRSG) to the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), the UN Resident Coordinator and the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the ASEOWA operation and other interventions the AU has put in place to combat the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease. He noted that AU through ASEOWA will work closely with UNMIL, UNMEER, WHO, ECOWAS and other partners in the fight against Ebola. The SRSG UNMIL lauded the AU initiative to deploy health personnel and promised to provide support to the ASEOWA operation.

In a related development, the Commissioner called upon the media to intensify public campaigns to contain the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease. Addressing a press conference in Monrovia, the Commissioner pleaded with journalists to robustly engage with and educate communities on the prescribed method to stop the spread the virus.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner and his team are now on their way to Conakry, Guinea as he continues his visit of some West African states to discuss the responses to the Ebola outbreak. WB/WZM

For further information contact

Wynne Musabayana | Deputy Head of Division | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int|Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Wurie Bah|| Social Affairs | African Union Commission |Tel: +251115182227| E-mail: Bahw@africa-union.org | Web:www.au.int|Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

About the African Union

The African Union spearheads Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens. AU Vision:to accelerate progress towards an integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa, at peacewith itself, playing a dynamic role in the continental and global arena, effectively driven by an accountable,efficient and responsive Commission. Learn more at: http://www.au.int/en/