African Union (AU) leaders have made history at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, held from February 14 to 15 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The summit focused on a fresh push for the remaining 24 AU Member States to ratify the African Medicines Agency (AMA) Treaty. Leaders emphasized that gaps in continental regulation could leave Africa vulnerable to substandard and falsified medical products.

High-Level Presidential Breakfast Highlights AMA Goals

At a high-level presidential breakfast convened by the AMA, Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema joined government leaders, AU officials, and partners to discuss the critical need for universal ratification.

The breakfast brought together heads of state, AU leadership, and senior representatives from AMA, Africa CDC, and the AfCFTA Secretariat. Discussions centered on accelerating AMA’s full operationalization, universal ratification, and sustainable financing.

During the session:

• Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay announced a $200,000 contribution to the AMA, doubling the required seed fund of $100,000 and encouraging larger nations to match it.
• Tunisia’s health minister, Dr. Mustapha Ferjani, emphasized that “Africa’s health sovereignty depends on regulatory sovereignty.”
• AMA Director General Dr. Delese Mimi Darko highlighted the agency’s ambition to be universally ratified and financially strong by 2030, noting that “over the past five years, AMA has moved from a treaty on paper to a living institution.”
• President Hichilema, also the AU Cholera Champion, called for an end to Africa’s reliance on external vaccines and medicines, stressing the need to build resilience and self-reliance in health systems.

In her closing remarks, Ambassador Amma Twum‑Amoah, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development of the African Union Commission, framed the AMA as central to the AU’s wider health and development agenda. She stated:

“Universal ratification, full implementation, and sustainable financing of the African Medicines Agency are achievable within this political cycle. AMA is a shared continental asset integral to delivering on the African Health Strategy 2030, Agenda 2063, and the commitments our Member States have made to protect the health and wellbeing of their people.”

Currently, 31 of the 55 AU member states have ratified the AMA Treaty. With headquarters now operational in Kigali, Rwanda, and a director officially in place, leaders agree that universal ratification is the next critical step.

The African Medicines Agency is a foundation for a new generation of African health. Universal ratification and sustainable implementation can empower the continent to produce safe, high-quality medicines, reduce dependence on external sources, and strengthen health systems across Africa.
Governments, organizations, and citizens alike have a role to play in turning this vision into reality. By supporting AMA today, Africa is investing in a healthier, more resilient, and self-reliant future for generations to come.