African leaders, development partners and international donors have pledged $910 million to support efforts to contain the Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
The commitments were announced during a High-Level Emergency Meeting convened by African Union Chairperson and Burundi President Évariste Ndayishimiye, bringing together African heads of state, the African Union Commission, Africa CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO), regional bodies and development partners.
Of the total amount pledged, African Union member states committed $80 million, a move welcomed by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) as a demonstration of growing continental leadership in health security.
The meeting endorsed urgent action to mobilise and disburse the $518 million required for the Joint Continental Preparedness and Response Plan within the next four weeks.
The plan covers key response measures in affected and at-risk countries, including surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing, treatment, infection prevention, community engagement, logistics and cross-border coordination.
“Our people will not judge us by our declarations, but by our ability to interrupt transmission, protect health workers, restore community trust and guarantee dignified care for affected families,” Ndayishimiye said.
Africa CDC Director-General Dr Jean Kaseya said the commitments reflected Africa’s determination to take responsibility for its own health security.
“African countries have stepped forward with $80 million in commitments. This matters,” Kaseya said. “The priority now is speed. Every pledge must translate into financing, supplies, people and support reaching the communities and responders on the ground.”
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reaffirmed the agency’s support for affected countries and stressed the importance of regional cooperation.
“Strong cross-border cooperation among affected countries and neighbours will be critical for both the Ebola response and in addressing wider humanitarian needs,” he said.
Health officials warned that the outbreak continues to place significant pressure on affected communities and frontline health workers.
The most urgent challenges include contact tracing, medical supplies, protection of health workers, treatment capacity, safe burials and access to areas affected by insecurity and population movement.
Africa CDC cautioned that delays in containing the outbreak could significantly increase costs. Current estimates put response needs at $518 million, but that figure could rise to as much as $1.5 billion if transmission is not rapidly controlled.
The meeting also welcomed a commitment of more than $60 million from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to accelerate the development of vaccine candidates targeting the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
The gathering concluded with a call on governments, donors, financial institutions, philanthropies and the private sector to move quickly from pledges to action, ensuring resources reach affected communities without delay.
Africa CDC said it will track commitments, disbursements and operational support on a weekly basis to improve transparency and ensure the response remains on course.
