By Iyemah David
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has unveiled a high-level ministerial committee to coordinate Africa’s position and strengthen its influence in global health decision-making.
The African High-Level Ministerial Committee on Global Health Architecture Reform was unveiled via webinar on the sidelines of the World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2026, on Tuesday in Nairobi, Kenya.
The committee brought together Ministers of Health and Finance from across the continent.
They were to promote a unified African voice in ongoing global health reforms, including negotiations around pandemic preparedness, international health regulations, and global health financing.
Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr Mahamoud Youssouf, who was former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Djibouti, said Africa must move from fragmented engagement to coordinated action in shaping global health policies.
“Africa carries a disproportionate burden of disease, yet its voice in global decision-making remains limited. This is not sustainable,” Youssouf said.
He said that the committee would enable African countries to speak with one voice that is “stronger, clearer, and more influential.”
The committee comes amid growing concerns over inequities in global health systems exposed by recent outbreaks, including COVID-19, Mpox, Cholera, and Marburg.
There are also rising threats such as antimicrobial resistance and climate-related health risks.
Stakeholders raised concerns over declining health financing, noting that Official Development Assistance for health dropped by an estimated 31.1 billion dollars in 2025, with further reductions expected.
Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General, of Africa CDC, said the new committee represented a shift towards greater ownership and accountability in Africa’s health governance.
“The old model is no longer fit for purpose. Africa cannot continue to be a passive recipient of global health decisions,” he said.
Dr Kaseya said that the committee would drive action across key areas, including governance reforms, financial and data sovereignty, local manufacturing of health products, and pandemic preparedness.
Former President of Liberia, Mrs Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who chairs the committee, described its establishment as timely.
“This moment is not about rhetoric; it is about responsibility, ensuring health funding is predictable, institutions are strengthened, and access to vaccines and technology is equitable,” Sirleaf said.
According p00to Africa CDC, the committee will produce a unified African position paper on global health reform, a roadmap for 2026–2030, and a financing and accountability framework to guide implementation.
The initiative is expected to enhance Africa’s participation in global negotiations and improve access to essential health services and medical products across the continent.
The move signals a broader shift towards health sovereignty, as African countries seek to align priorities, strengthen institutions, and mobilise collective action in response to evolving health challenges.
