African leaders have sounded the alarm over a deepening malaria crisis, warning that decades of progress could unravel without urgent financial action. Meeting in Addis Ababa, heads of state called for a new era of Africa malaria financing as global support declines.
With cases already surging and climate pressures intensifying, officials say the continent faces a “perfect storm” that could push malaria deaths to catastrophic levels. The warning comes as funding shortfalls threaten essential prevention tools, treatments, and community health programmes across Africa.
Introduction
At the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, leaders reviewed the 2025 Africa Malaria Progress Report and urged immediate action to secure Africa malaria financing.
The report reveals rising cases, declining donor support, and growing risks of resurgence, prompting calls for domestic investment and renewed global commitments across the continent.
Stalled Progress Across the Continent
The report paints a sobering picture. In 2024 alone, African Union Member States accounted for 270.8 million malaria cases — an overwhelming 96 percent of the global total — along with nearly 600,000 deaths. Progress toward elimination has slowed markedly since 2015, leaving only a handful of countries on track to meet established targets.
Moreover, the data suggests that without immediate intervention, the situation could deteriorate dramatically. Researchers warn that annual cases may exceed 400 million, while deaths could surpass one million each year. Such a reversal would erase decades of hard-won gains.
President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, Republic of Botswana, Chair of ALMA
“The perfect storm of converging crises threatening malaria elimination has intensified… We cannot allow these challenges to reverse decades of progress.”
Funding Shortfalls Threaten Prevention Efforts
International health funding for Africa has dropped sharply, with official development assistance declining by about 70 percent in just four years. Meanwhile, the Global Fund’s latest replenishment fell well short of expectations, deepening the financial gap.
If funding declines continue, the consequences could be severe. The report projects hundreds of millions fewer insecticide-treated bed nets distributed, millions of additional infections, and significant economic losses across the continent. Children under five would bear the brunt of increased mortality.
Projected Impact of Funding Cuts
| Indicator | Projected Outcome |
| Bed Nets Distributed | 640 million fewer |
| Additional Cases | 146 million |
| Additional Deaths | 397,000 |
| GDP Loss by 2030 | $37 billion |
A Push for Domestic Investment and Partnerships
Faced with shrinking international support, African governments are increasingly turning inward. Leaders emphasised domestic resource mobilisation, innovative financing mechanisms, and public-private partnerships as essential pillars of sustainable malaria control.
Several countries have already established End Malaria Councils and Funds, collectively mobilising over $200 million. These initiatives demonstrate how local ownership can complement international assistance while strengthening long-term resilience.
Key approaches highlighted by leaders include:
- Increasing national health budgets dedicated to malaria control
- Engaging private sector and philanthropic partners
- Leveraging diaspora investment and innovation
Leaders also urged global partners to honour existing commitments and called for a renewed World Bank Malaria Booster Programme, which previously delivered transformative results across the continent.
New Tools Offer Hope Despite Challenges
Even as funding concerns mount, technological progress continues to provide cautious optimism. Next-generation insecticide-treated nets, malaria vaccines, and spatial repellents are being deployed at unprecedented scale.
In 2025, nearly three-quarters of distributed bed nets used advanced dual-ingredient technology, significantly improving effectiveness against resistant mosquitoes. Meanwhile, vaccination programmes for young children are expanding across multiple countries.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, United Republic of Tanzania
“This is African science… addressing an African challenge.” Tanzania highlighted local research into innovative technologies, including gene-drive approaches targeting malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
Local Manufacturing and Health Sovereignty
Another major priority is reducing dependence on imports. Currently, Africa imports almost all vaccines and the vast majority of medicines, leaving countries vulnerable to supply disruptions and price volatility.
To address this, leaders stressed the importance of building domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity. Nigeria, for example, is pursuing partnerships to produce antimalarial treatments and diagnostic tools locally.
The African Medicines Agency and regional bodies are also working to harmonise regulatory systems, which could accelerate the approval and distribution of new medical technologies across borders.
- Local production of medicines and vaccines
- Regional regulatory harmonisation
- Strengthening supply chain resilience
Continental Stakes: Health, Economy, and Stability
Malaria remains more than a health issue; it is also an economic and development challenge. High disease burden reduces productivity, strains health systems, and discourages investment. Consequently, successful control efforts could unlock significant economic growth.
Experts estimate that full deployment of existing tools with adequate funding could save millions of lives and generate substantial economic returns. In this sense, malaria elimination aligns closely with broader goals of industrialisation, climate resilience, and human capital development across Africa.
Dr. Michael Adekunle Charles, RBM Partnership to End Malaria
“We have the tools. We need the resources.”
Moving Forward
Africa’s leaders have made it clear that the fight against malaria has reached a critical juncture. Without sustained Africa malaria financing, the continent risks a devastating resurgence that could undermine health gains and economic progress.
However, the summit also highlighted a growing determination to take ownership of the solution. By combining domestic investment, regional cooperation, and renewed international partnerships, African nations aim to bend the curve toward elimination and protect future generations from one of the continent’s oldest diseases.
Sources: African Union Malaria Progress Report 2025; African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA); APO Group press release.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News, an independent news organization delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analyzed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
