African Leaders Call for Sustainable Malaria Financing as Progress Stalls and Funding Crisis Deepens

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February 14, 2026

In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, African Heads of State and Government, together with the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) led by President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko of the Republic of Botswana, have sounded the alarm on malaria in Africa, as revealed in the 2025 Africa Malaria Progress Report. The report shows that in 2024, AU Member States accounted for 270.8 million malaria cases and nearly 600,000 deaths, representing 96% of global cases and 97% of global deaths, highlighting stalled progress and the urgent risk of resurgence. Speaking at the 39th African Union Summit, leaders called for increased domestic funding, reinforced partner support, and a revitalized World Bank Malaria Booster Programme, stressing that immediate action is needed to safeguard decades of hard-won gains and achieve the AU Catalytic Framework targets to end AIDS, TB, and eliminate malaria by 2030.

His Excellency President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, Republic of Botswana, Chair of ALMA, in his speech, warned that “The perfect storm of converging crises threatening malaria elimination has intensified. Official Development Assistance for health in Africa has declined by 70% in just four years, and the Eighth Replenishment of the Global Fund fell significantly short of its $18 billion target. We cannot allow these challenges to reverse decades of progress that have prevented 1.64 billion cases and saved 12.4 million lives since 2000.”

H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, highlighted the country’s investments in research and innovation, “Our approach has spanned the full spectrum of what it takes to beat this disease. Tanzania has invested in world-class research and is home to the Ifakara Health Institute, where our scientists are working at the frontier of new technologies. One of them is gene drive, an innovative approach that aims to ensure mosquitoes can no longer transmit the malaria parasite. This is African science, conducted by African researchers, addressing an African challenge.”

Dr. Michael Adekunle Charles, CEO, RBM Partnership to End Malaria, in his speech, emphasized that “Full deployment of existing and new tools, combined with full funding, could save over 13.2 million lives over the next 15 years and boost African economies by over $140 billion. Every dollar invested in the Global Fund returns $19. We have the tools. We need the resources.”

The Heads of State and Government in attendance issued a strong call to action, urging all Member States to recognise malaria as a central pillar of health sovereignty and economic transformation. They called for the protection and increase of both domestic and external financing, alongside the full implementation of the Catalytic Framework to END AIDS, TB, and Eliminate Malaria in Africa by 2030 through a renewed Big Push Against Malaria.

The leaders also appealed to international partners to honour their commitments, align their support with national priorities, and invest in the tools, systems, and innovations needed to secure a malaria-free future. While acknowledging the challenges ahead, they stressed that with determined leadership, smarter use of data, and sustained investment, Africa can bend the curve toward elimination and ensure future generations grow up free from the threat of malaria.

Zero Malaria Starts with Me. Zero Malaria Starts with You.

For further information, please contact:

Ms. Inas Mubarak Yahia Abbas | Head of Division, Health Systems, Diseases and Nutrition E-mail: AbbasI@africanunion.org

African Leaders Malaria Alliance: Thomas Davies | TDavies@alma2030.org | www.alma2030.org

African Media Agency: Eloïne Barry | Eloine.barry@africanmediaagency.com

For media Enquiries, please contact:

Godstime Gaius Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: GaiusG@africanunion.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org |