African leaders have raised alarm over a potential resurgence of malaria, warning that declining international funding could reverse decades of gains in the fight against the disease.
The warning was issued during the 39th summit of the African Union held in Addis Ababa, where heads of state endorsed the 2025 AU Malaria Progress Report highlighting stalled progress and increasing risks across the continent.
According to the report, African Union member states recorded approximately 270.8 million malaria cases in 2024 accounting for 96% of the global total and 594,119 deaths, representing 97% of worldwide fatalities. Despite sustained efforts, only five countries met the 2025 malaria elimination targets.
Health officials warn that the situation could worsen significantly if funding gaps persist. Projections indicate that a 30% reduction in malaria financing could result in an additional 146 million cases and nearly 400,000 deaths by 2030, with children under five years old expected to bear the greatest burden.
Duma Boko, Chair of the AU Malaria Alliance, described the current situation as a “perfect storm” of challenges threatening malaria elimination, cautioning that failure to act could undo progress that has prevented more than 1.6 billion infections and saved over 12 million lives since 2000.
In response, African leaders are calling for increased domestic investment, sustainable financing strategies, and innovative funding mechanisms to bridge the gap left by declining donor support. National malaria funds established in 12 countries have already mobilised over $200 million, signaling growing commitment at the local level.
Leaders also urged global partners to reinvigorate support initiatives, including programmes led by the World Bank, to sustain momentum in malaria control efforts.
Despite the funding challenges, some progress has been recorded. In 2025, next-generation insecticide-treated nets accounted for 74% of distributed mosquito nets, while approximately 28 million malaria vaccine doses were administered across 24 countries nearly three times the number recorded in 2024.
Countries such as Nigeria are also increasing investment in the local production of antimalarial drugs and diagnostic tools. Meanwhile, the newly established African Medicines Agency is expected to improve regulatory efficiency and expand access to essential medicines across the continent.
Michael Charles, Chief Executive Officer of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, emphasized that scaling up both existing and new interventions alongside adequate funding could save more than 13 million lives over the next 15 years while delivering significant economic benefits to African nations.
Public health experts warn that without urgent and coordinated action, Africa risks a reversal in its malaria gains, underscoring the need for sustained political commitment and financial investment to safeguard vulnerable populations.
