AU Chairperson Urges African Countries to Pursue Self-reliance in Health

Addis Ababa, August 25, 2026 (ENA) — African Union Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf called on African countries to pursue self-reliance in health through stronger domestic financing, local production, research and innovation.

Speaking at the 76th session of World Health Organization Regional Committee for Africa (RC76), which opened in Addis Ababa today, the Chairperson said that health remains central to Africa’s priorities.

Health sovereignty on the continent is no longer optional, he emphasized.

Youssouf pointed to ongoing and emerging challenges, including outbreaks and infectious diseases such as Ebola, cholera, Mpox, HIV, and tuberculosis, as well as the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in Africa.

The Chairperson noted that the region continues to face constraints, including inadequate healthcare infrastructure, shortages of financial resources, and trained health personnel.

Despite these challenges, he highlighted Africa’s strengths, citing the African Health Strategy 2016-2030, the work of continental institutions, and the national capacities being demonstrated in some member states.

Efforts to develop the continent’s ability to produce treatments and vaccines are also underway, Youssouf added.

He revealed that the African Union has launched its Medicines Agency to support norms, standards, and recognized approvals.

Above all, member states are increasingly allocating more of their national budgets to health.

The African Union will work to strengthen collective capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to health threats in partnership with WHO, the Chairperson said, calling for a stronger African voice in global health governance.

Youssouf outlined three key priorities: mobilizing more domestic financial resources for health; accelerating vaccine and treatment production capacity on the continent; and removing barriers on the African medicine market and consolidating value chains across member states.

He also referenced the African Union’s current theme on water and sanitation, emphasizing the critical importance of clean, abundant water for community health.

According to the Chairperson, African health sovereignty begins with effective national health systems.

In this regard, he affirmed AUC’s commitment to working alongside member states and continental institutions to achieve that goal.

Finally, he expressed confidence that the African Union, WHO, and partners would renew their cooperation to improve coherence, implementation, and gradual self-reliance.