Algeria’s fine gesture of solidarity with Tunisia on sharing doses of anti-Covid vaccines risks remaining at the stage of intention. On Wednesday evening, Tunisian Foreign Minister Othmane Jerandi revealed that Algeria was going to share with his country the quantities of Covid-19 vaccines it is about to receive from Russia.
“The Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs assured me that his country has not yet received the said vaccine. However, he assured me that upon receipt of the first batches, they will be shared with Tunisia, “Jerandi told reporters after a working session with Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed. He said he himself asked the Algerian foreign minister if Algeria could provide doses of the anti-Covid vaccine to his country, which is facing an unprecedented economic and social crisis.
Algeria’s gesture was praised in both countries, and illustrates the legendary spirit of solidarity between Algerians and Tunisians.
The Minister of Health Abderrahmane Benbouzid affirmed in an interview with the Russian channel RT broadcast on Thursday (January 14th) that Algeria was ready to share its vaccines with the neighboring countries, without however reiterating the commitment which Boukadoum would have made. If the Foreign Minister did not react – he is on tour in Africa – his Communication colleague Amar Belhimer has spoken.
In an interview with the Sirmanews site published Thursday, January 14, the government spokesman was more specific, conditioning the sharing of vaccines with Tunisia on the availability of sufficient quantities of the antidote. Unless the Tunisian foreign minister misinterpreted Boukadoum’s response, this is a step backwards on the part of the Algerian government on the issue of sharing vaccines with Tunisia.
On December 30, Algeria announced that it had opted for the Russian anti-Covid vaccine to launch mass vaccination in January. With less than two weeks before the end of the deadline set by President Tebboune to launch this campaign, the doses of Sputnik V have not yet arrived in Algeria.
