Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | — In a historic demonstration of political resolve and continental unity, twenty African Union (AU) Member States affected by cholera convened on 4 June 2025 for a high-level digital assembly, following a name by the Africa Centres for Illness Management and Prevention (Africa CDC) and underneath the management of H.E. Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia and AU Champion on Cholera.
The assembly introduced collectively ten Heads of State and Vice-Presidents–representing Angola, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe–alongside Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers of Well being, Finance, and Water and Sanitation. International well being companions, together with WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, the International Fund, and others, additionally participated to forge a united entrance within the combat in opposition to cholera.
As of Might 2025, Africa has reported roughly 130,000 cholera instances and a couple of,700 deaths, representing 60% of worldwide reported instances and an alarming 93.5% of cholera-related deaths. Angola, the DRC, Sudan, and South Sudan stay among the many most severely affected.
In his opening deal with, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Fee, known as for daring management and systemic change: “The individuals of Africa are watching. They count on daring, coordinated, and unwavering management that places their well being and dignity first. This disaster calls for motion on the highest political degree. Solely by the direct engagement of our Heads of State can we drive the elimination of cholera by 2030. This requires a continental shift–strong nationwide management, home funding, built-in nationwide actions, and regional coordination. We should additionally break the cycle of dependency by accelerating vaccine manufacturing and guaranteeing equitable entry to life-saving instruments.”
H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union, underscored the necessity for transformative investments: “To deal with this illness, we should make investments robustly in water, sanitation, and well being techniques. That is our second to show historic challenges into actual alternatives for financial and social improvement.”
Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director Normal of Africa CDC, emphasised the systemic drivers of the crisis–limited WASH infrastructure, insecurity, weak coordination, and vaccine shortages:
“Africa wants 54 million doses of oral cholera vaccine yearly however receives barely half. This hole is unacceptable. Pressing motion is required to scale up native manufacturing and safe provide.”
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-Normal, welcomed the management proven:
“I commend the Heads of State for his or her imaginative and prescient and dedication. WHO will intensify its assist to affected international locations by this Name to Motion.”
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African leaders dedicated to operationalizing the Continental Incident Administration Assist Crew (IMST), constructing on the profitable mpox response, to strengthen cross-border surveillance. On the nationwide degree, they pledged to determine Presidential Process Forces on Cholera to strengthen multisectoral coordination, mobilize home assets, and implement accountability frameworks. They additional emphasised scaling up native vaccine manufacturing, increasing WASH infrastructure, and deepening partnerships with the personal sector.
Etleva Kadili, UNICEF Regional Director for Jap and Southern Africa, reminded leaders that youngsters are most affected: “Kids bear the brunt of this disaster. Daring motion and unwavering political will are urgently wanted.”
Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, reported vital enhancements in vaccine availability–from 2 million doses in 2013 to over 21 million in 2025–and the supply of 1.9 million fast diagnostic kits to assist outbreak detection. She reaffirmed Gavi’s dedication to supporting native manufacturing in Africa by the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA) and urged international assist for Gavi’s upcoming replenishment.
In closing, H.E. Hakainde Hichilema reaffirmed his dedication to report again to the AU Meeting on progress: “We’ve got issued a transparent Name to Motion. Now we should deliver–through scaled-up home investments, strengthened cross-border coordination, and community-driven responses. Africa wants one continental IMST, one community-centered plan, and one accountability framework.”
The assembly marks a turning level in Africa’s response to cholera–anchored in high-level political possession, multisectoral collaboration, and continental solidarity.
