February 13, 2025

AU chairperson expresses shock over US withdrawal from WHO

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has expressed profound disappointment following the United States government’s announcement to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO).

In a statement released today, Mahamat highlighted the significant role the U.S. has played within WHO over the past seven decades, shaping global public health instruments and norms that have contributed to health security and wellbeing worldwide.


“The USA as a member of WHO was crucial in shaping global WHO instruments and norms on public health security and wellbeing over the past seven decades,” said the chairperson.

Mahamat underscored the critical contributions of the U.S. to Africa’s public health infrastructure, particularly its support for the establishment of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The Africa CDC, a technical agency of the African Union, collaborates closely with WHO and the global community to detect, prepare for, respond to, and recover from pandemics.

“In Africa, the USA was an early and strong supporter towards the establishment of Africa CDC, the African Union’s technical agency for public health emergencies,” Mahamat noted.

With the world still grappling with the aftermath of recent pandemics and the growing threat of global health crises, Mahamat emphasized the irreplaceable role of WHO in safeguarding global health security.

“Today, now more than ever, the world depends on WHO to carry out its mandate to ensure global public health security as a shared common good,” he stressed.

The Chairperson concluded by urging the U.S. government to reconsider its decision, emphasizing the importance of its continued membership in the organization.

“The Chairperson therefore hopes the US government will reconsider its decision to withdraw from this key global Organization of which it is a founding member,” he said.

The announcement has sparked widespread concern among global health experts, who fear that the U.S. withdrawal could undermine coordinated efforts to combat future health emergencies and weaken the global public health system.

 

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