Africa stands on the cusp of a major milestone in the fight against Aids, with the continent poised to present a united front at the UN's 2026 High-Level Meeting in New York. The bold move towards ending the epidemic by 2030 has sparked a call for greater control over Africa's own health response – and it needs international backing.
The Common Africa Position, forged through extensive collaboration among member states, experts, and institutions, advocates a shift from relying on external funding to investing in domestic HIV financing. This vision is rooted in the Africa Health Security and Sovereignty agenda, which treats health as a matter of sovereignty rather than charity – a significant departure from traditional aid models.
The position puts forth three key demands: increased domestic funding, expanded access to essential medicines and innovative prevention tools, and the development of robust systems to sustain the response. These measures aim to empower Africa's own solutions, rather than perpetuating dependence on external assistance.
Despite progress – Aids-related deaths have fallen by 59% since 2010, and new infections by 68% – external health aid to the continent has plummeted by 70% between 2021 and 2025. This precipitous decline threatens to undermine hard-won gains and imperil Africa's ability to sustain momentum in the fight against Aids.
The African Medicines Agency is playing a pivotal role in supporting the continent's goal of locally manufacturing at least 60% of its health product needs by 2040. This ambitious objective will necessitate unwavering political commitment, as well as a secure pathway for technology transfer to African manufacturers – enabling them to bridge the significant gap between production and global standards.