The Evolving Role of the African Ambassador In Times of Crisis
recent blog
The Evolving Role of the African Ambassador In Times of Crisis
—
July 14, 2020
Many African countries have not experienced exponential daily growth in confirmed cases or deaths taking place in the United States and Europe although the regional coronavirus case count is increasing. The low rate of infections has been largely attributed to the aggressive, proactive approach many African governments have taken to contain the virus. But these precautionary steps have had ripple effects: as the coronavirus upends society, citizens across the world find themselves relying on governments more than ever, both in their home countries and in the diaspora.
Governments themselves now find themselves re-examining their relationships with their citizens as well as bilateral and multilateral partners as they formulate a response to COVID-19 and begin planning for the post-pandemic world. In this wide-ranging joint interview with H.E. Ambassador Peter Ogego, Kenyan Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and H.E. Emmanuel Hategeka, Ambassador of Rwanda to the United Arab Emirates, Botho Founder and Principal Isaac Kwaku Fokuo, Jr. probes the question, “What is the role of African Ambassador during a time of crisis?”
Isaac Kwaku Fokuo: Has the focus of your role as Ambassador changed during this crisis?
Ambassador Ogego: My schedule is still very much the same. I still deal with the same issues because governments don’t lockdown. Our operations still continue because our activities are considered essential services. As Ambassadors, we remain in touch with our headquarters because we have to constantly represent our national interests and address the concerns of our citizens in the Kingdom. In fact, sometimes I get busier than my normal day prior to this lockdown.
Normally, I wake up at 3:00 or 4:00 AM, often to check the global news or social media to see if there are any developments around the world and any urgent developments concerning Kenyans in Saudi Arabia. If we see that Kenyans are in distress, I reach out to my team as early as 6:00 AM so that by the time the clock strikes 10:00 AM we’ve wrapped our heads around Kenyan nationals and devised an action plan. The other part of my job as Ambassador is maintaining cordial relations between the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh, and, of course, the Government of Saudi Arabia itself through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I also have to maintain friendly relations with colleague ambassadors and the entire diplomatic corps in Saudi Arabia.
Ambassador Hategeka: I would say the traditional role of an ambassador has evolved rather than changed. I am navigating these tough times similarly here in the UAE. We faced some initial challenges when the pandemic began. After Rwanda started testing and quarantining, we also embarked on contact tracing friends of those who had returned to Rwanda and tested positive for COVID-19. That kept us on our toes because we immediately had to take measures to arrange their testing and isolation to limit further spread of the virus.
Following contact tracing and testing, about 27% of those tested were found positive. This data was shared with authorities to conduct further tracing. With the support of our Government, we had to immediately mobilize financial resources to take care of these people and isolate them in rented accommodation. At the end of 15 days, all of those positive cases were treated until their tests came back negative.
But then, on the other hand, the embassy also had to deal with the situation of Rwandans here in UAE on a visitor’s visa for a short stay but who found themselves stranded here due to the lockdown. We had to act quickly to ensure that we could support them by mobilizing our Rwandan community here in the UAE to fundraise for their welfare during the lockdown. There are about 80 people who fall into that category that have benefited from this solidarity during the lockdown and we keep checking on each and every one of them. That keeps me awake.
Besides these unusual circumstances that we found ourselves dug in, the work of the embassy of promoting good bilateral relations, representing national interests while coordinating with institutions back home and Foreign Affairs Ministry in the host country continued albeit working from home.
Read more here.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
