Cote d’Ivoire resumes flight to Ebola-hit countries

Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire – 24 October 2014: President Alassane Dramane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire has informed the African Union Commission Chairperson H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and her delegation that the country’s national carrier, Air Ivoire, has resumed flights to Conakry, Guinea. He told the AUC Chairperson on Friday 24 October 2014 when they paid him a courtesy call at his residence in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

President Ouattara announced that flights to Liberia and Sierra Leone will begin on Sunday 26 October 2014.

Accompanying the AUC Chairperson to the courtesy call with President Ouattara were African Development Bank President Dr. Donald Kaberuka and United Nations Economic Community for Africa Executive Secretary Dr. Carlos Lopez. These leaders of pan-African instutions are embarking on these visits to not only share solidarity with the sisterly countries, but also to step up the needed support to end the deadly Ebola Virus Disease outbreak.
The leaders of the three institutions are also fighting challenges of stigmatization around Ebola, as well as embarking on actions aimed at overcoming the immediate and long-term negative consequences of the Ebola outbreak.

During the meeting President Ouattara said Cote d’Ivoire had not resumed flights due to lack of will, but rather the lack of necessary equipment to carry out departure and arrival screening at the ports of entry and exit.

Cote d’Ivoire will soon be announcing its medical personnel contribution once they complete an ongoing training exercise. Meanwhile, the country will have its business people also attending the meeting of African business people being planned for 8th November 2014, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Media contact
Jacob Enoh Eben | Spokesperson of the Chairperson | | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: EnohebenJ@africa-union.org or Spokesperson@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int|Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Tawanda Chisango | Social Affairs | African Union Commission |Tel: +251115182029 | E-mail: Chisangot@africa-union.org | Web:www.au.int |Addis Ababa | Ethiopia