COVID-19: AU boss hits out at Trump for suspending WHO funding

President Donald Trump has been condemned by the African Union Commission's chairperson, Moussa Faki, for suspending its funding of the World Health Organization.

Mr Trump halted the US' funding of the WHO, claiming that the organisation "failed in its basic duty" as regards response to the COVID-19 as well as overly trusting China.

"I am directing my administration to halt funding while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization's role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus," Mr Trump told reporters on Tuesday.

Mr Faki, on the other hand, revealed that Trump's decision was wrongly timed as the world fights the deadly pandemic that has infected over two million persons.

Moussa Faki Mahamat tweeted that:

"The USgovt decision to suspend funding to @WHO is deeply regrettable. Today more than ever, the world depends on WHO’s leadership to steer the global #Covid_19 pandemic response. Our collective responsibility to ensure WHO can fully carry out its mandate has never been more urgent."

The BBC reports that the US is the single largest funder of the WHO, providing more than $400m (£320m) each year - about 15% of its total budget.

President Donald Trump has been widely criticised for his decision.

The USgovt decision to suspend funding to @WHO is deeply regrettable. Today more than ever,the world depends on WHO’s leadership to steer the global #Covid_19 pandemic response.Our collective responsibility to ensure WHO can fully carry out its mandate, has never been more urgent

— Moussa Faki Mahamat (@AUC_MoussaFaki) April 15, 2020