‘These are days of shaking and this shaking is universal.’
Jeremiah Whittaker
The great virus of the 21st Century has brought immense suffering to societies across the globe, sparing no country the destructive consequences of its arrival. For those interested in politics, it has been an interesting period in which to observe the responses of governments to the virus. The author writes just a week after a dramatic diplomatic row, between the European Union and Great Britain, over the delivery of vaccines with each polity striving to secure future wellbeing of their threatened populations.
So enraged was the EU at the mere prospect of British advantage that European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen invoked Article 16. Attempting to erect a vaccine border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, the commission president took dramatic action which caused a political furore and threatened the Good Friday Agreement. Nigel Dodds, DUP raconteur, accused the EU of a ‘‘hostile nationalistic approach’’, declaring with glee ‘‘The EU has behaved atrociously.’’[1] Former Prime Minister Tony Blair described the approach as ‘‘very foolish’’[2] and British Press engaged in characteristic nationalistic triumphalism once the EU relented. ‘‘No, EU can’t have our jabs!’’ Roared the Daily Mail, “Wait your turn!” the Daily Express demanded, ‘‘Vaccine Victory’’ proclaimed the Sunday People, ‘‘Boris Toasts Another Big Brexit Bonus’’ proclaimed the Sunday Express.[3]
After swift condemnation and a retreat from the European Union, von der Leyen delivered a warning to the pharmaceutical company and the hostile country at the centre of the vaccine delivery dispute. ‘‘The EU and others helped with money to build research capacities and production facilities. Europe invested billions to help develop the world’s first Covid-19 vaccines. To create a truly global common good. And now, the companies must deliver. They must honour their obligations.’’[1] Far from being cowered by British hubris, ‘‘Europe is determined to contribute. But it also means business.”
According to Statista, ‘‘As of February 3, 2021, there were 1,053 drugs and vaccines in development targeting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).[1] None are being prepared by African companies, examined by African regulators, nor sponsored by African governments. If Europe means business, it is as ever clear that Africa does not. ‘‘Coronavirus vaccines offer the world hope – unless you live in Africa’’, Guardian author Kenan Malik stated without a hint of irony, clarifying by confirming that ‘‘All the people who have received a jab in Africa could fit comfortably on the top deck of a London bus.’’[2] What makes this deplorable statistic unforgivably contemptible is that all twenty-five are from a single country, Guinea. This leaves fifty-three countries without a single vaccinated person in February 2021. Yet, only in May 2020, the faux-revolutionary Afua Hirsh published another of her unceasing pleas for white recognition in the Guardian titled ‘Why are Africa’s coronavirus successes being overlooked?’[3] With the entire continent now awaiting a vaccine it cannot afford, nor manufacture, her words must ring hollow to the billion people in Africa and millions more in the Caribbean.
The revelation that power is at the heart of Coronavirus responses has seriously complicated matters for a continent of nations which relies on the financial and moral goodwill of the remaining continents. A ‘global race’ is underway to produce, utilise and export vaccines and Africa can do little but sit and wait for those involved to hand down surplus produce to countries that cannot afford to manufacture their own or pay for those made abroad. Guardian Health Editor, Sarah Boseley informs us that, ‘‘Pfizer offered to sell the vaccine to South Africa at a 50% discounted price of $10 a shot, but was told the cost was still prohibitive.’’[1] The cry of racism was inevitably raised, as it was revealed that the discounted price was twice as much as European nations were being quoted. Three western vaccines have been approved, not a single African vaccine is even in production. As von der Leyen stated clearly, the EU have paid into a system and thus shall reap the benefits. Africa does not have a comparative system and has not paid into the European one, thus shall not. This is simply one of many consequences of inept governance. What beggary can solve in normality, it is unable to amid a global health and financial crisis.
While on the vaccine analysis maps Africa lays bare, the world is awash the colour of recovery. China, India and Russia have led the way in challenging Anglo-American domination, with vaccines already produced or manufactured nationally being sold internationally.[2] The nations beneath the tier of the great powers, the ‘middle-income nations’ are also striving to ensure they have access to a vaccine. Emergency approval has been given to the Chinese vaccine, made by Sinopharm, by Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Turkey has already purchased the vaccine. The Guardian reported that ‘‘Seven countries have now given emergency authorisation to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine or the Serum Institute version: the UK, India, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico and Morocco. The Carlos Slim Foundation in Mexico is licensed by AstraZeneca to supply 150m doses to Latin America. These countries could take delivery right away.’’[3]
Those who have the infrastructure to manufacture vaccines have been able to gain an advantage, national facilities in Korea, Thailand and Australia are being used to produce the AstraZeneca vaccine. With ambitions to join the top-tier of nations and the worlds eighth-largest economy, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro wrote to Indian Prime minister, Narendra Modi to ensure the two million doses the nation has ordered arrives with haste. The doses will supplement the ten million does of the Russian vaccine, Sputnik.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been consistently voicing their concern for the 1.3 billion Africans residing in the continent since the virus began. An alliance of charitable societies has merged to ensure that those who are unable to produce or purchase the initial vaccine for themselves are not left without any means of survival. According to the WHO, ‘The global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi the Vaccine Alliance and The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) aims to start shipping nearly 90 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to the continent in February, in what will be Africa’s largest-ever mass vaccination campaign.’[1] It is no surprise to any who has followed the affairs of the African continent that it is Western entities which will be leading this historic campaign.
Fifty-four governments are unable to afford more than twenty-five vials of the vaccine, while healthcare workers protest[1], hospitals run out of oxygen[2], and the beggarly governments benefit from debt suspension initiatives from the World Bank.[3] Observers of the maladroit state of African governance are forced to continually ask, what exactly are African politicians doing in office? One has to wonder whether there has ever been a political class imbued with such ineptitude and lethargy, this history graduate certainly struggles to find a comparison. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of a South Africa that cannot afford the vaccine, confirmed that ‘‘arrangements had been made with the African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank) to support member states who want access to the vaccines.’’[4] Members of the African Union will be eligible to ‘‘access about $5 billion either to buy more vaccines or pay for delivery of vaccines committed on their behalf by Afreximbank.’’.
Let us be clear, the GAVI Vaccine being bestowed upon Africa is a bargain vaccine being given to the poorest countries in the world, lest they impact the recovery of the affluent nations. Those without the means to purchase, manufacture, or approve the leading vaccines are being given a vaccine approved by the WHO regulatory body. Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said “Africa has watched other regions start COVID-19 vaccination campaigns from the side-lines for too long. This planned roll-out is a critical first step to ensuring the continent gets equitable access to vaccines,”.[5] Whoever does not feel shame at this point never shall. Nor is this the first time, as regular observers know, that an external philanthropic Western organisation has been forced to safeguard the African population from a virus that African governments can do little to control.[6] When Africa is sick, the West cures her. When Africa is beggarly the West loans her money. When Africa cannot repay its loans, the west provides debt relief packages for her. This inglorious sequence of affairs, repeating itself with such shameful frequency, has acquired a sense of odious permanency. The inglorious sequence has become the very nourishment sustaining a putrefying ruling class. In these days of shaking, Africa as ever remains in a languorous state, sleepwalking through the inexorable sequence which bounds her to the base of the world.
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