South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had a phone call with United States President-elect, Joe Biden, to discuss US-African diplomatic ties and tackling the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The presidency said in the statement that Ramaphosa had called Biden and his Vice President, Kamala Harris, to congratulate them on their victory over Donald Trump in the November 3 elections.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa is hopeful of a strong partnership between the United States and the African continent in promoting peace and stability in international relations and advancing multilateralism,” the statement read.
“President Ramaphosa had a call with US President-Elect Joe Biden on Tuesday evening, 17 November 2020, during which the leaders discussed ways to strengthen US-Africa relations and overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Biden and Harris have identified Africa as a key player in their administration’s efforts to advance multilateralism and tackle International affairs. The two also reminisced about Biden’s trip to South Africa in the 1980s, during the darkest days of apartheid, where Biden stood up as an ally to the South African people and the ANC.
In response to the Presidency’s tweet about the phone call, a user responded by posting an old video of Biden taking this position in front of the US Congress at the time.
Elated to read this. @JoeBiden has always been on the right side of history, especially when it comes to South Africa. pic.twitter.com/ElFqe7qS6E
— Felicia Mabuza-Suttle (@Feliciamabuza) November 18, 2020
“President Ramaphosa said he looked forward to a strong partnership at a bilateral level and between the United States and the continent of Africa,” the statement added.
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