South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Kinshasa on July 2 for an official solidarity mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). As the African Union’s High Representative for Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention, and Response (PPPR), his visit comes amid the 17th recorded Ebola outbreak in the DRC.

According to a statement from the South African presidency, Ramaphosa—accompanied by Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Thandi Moraka—will meet with his Congolese counterpart, President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi, to “demonstrate the African Union’s collective support for the government and people of the DRC in addressing the ongoing Ebola epidemic.”

The mission aims to strengthen continental coordination in responding to this health emergency. “This high-level visit will provide political leadership to enhance the coordinated continental response to the Ebola outbreak, reinforce regional collaboration and cross-border preparedness, and mobilize political, technical, and financial commitments from African Union member states and partners,” the statement explained.

The African Union emphasized that these efforts aim not only to contain the current epidemic but also to build long-term resilience in Africa’s public health systems. The AU highlighted the need for sustainable improvements to prevent future health crises.

The AU’s PPPR Champion is tasked with “providing political leadership and oversight for the Ebola response” while promoting “solidarity with affected countries and frontline responders.” To date, African Union member states have pledged over $100 million to the African Epidemic Fund, with global commitments exceeding $910 million. South Africa has announced a $13.5 million contribution.

On May 17, two days after the official declaration of the outbreak in the DRC, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the Bundibugyo Ebola strain outbreak—later spreading to Uganda—as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

The WHO warned that the epidemic’s geographic spread may be underestimated due to population mobility, fragile health systems, limited infrastructure, conflict zones, and the lack of a vaccine or specific treatment for this strain. Despite these challenges, Congolese authorities have reassured the public, rejecting alarmist narratives while emphasizing ongoing efforts in collaboration with national and international partners. The DRC has successfully managed 16 previous Ebola outbreaks, demonstrating its experience in crisis response.