This right of reply is submitted in response to the article published by Africa Intelligence on 30 March 2026. The article’s framing is inaccurate, incomplete, and inconsistent with the statutory framework governing the Africa CDC, as well as with decisions formally adopted by the competent organs of the African Union (AU). The institutional record is clear and not in dispute.
1. Mischaracterization of Institutional Relations
The title and framing of the article are misleading. There is no institutional dispute between the African Union Commission (AUC) and Africa CDC. Views expressed by an individual within AUC do not constitute the official position of the Chairperson AUC representing this organ.
As a reminder, the DG Africa CDC is elected by heads of States and government, and he is the head of Organ of Africa CDC. He is linked to the Chairperson AUC, also elected by heads of States and Government who is the Head of organ of AUC while commissioner, elected by ministers of Foreign Affairs, is not Head of organ and is reporting to the Deputy Chairperson AUC. To clarify, the commissioner doesn’t have any power, oversight authority nor supervisory role over Africa CDC or its DG.
On this issue, Africa CDC has never received nor been formally notified of the alleged “internal memo dated 4 March” referenced in the article.
2. Allegations of Procedural Irregularities
The claim that procedures were not followed is incorrect. Africa CDC operates under its Statute as an autonomous public health institution of the AU. Its governance structure comprises four organs: (i) the Committee of Heads of State and Government (CHSG), (ii) the Governing Board, (iii) the Advisory and Technical Council, and (iv) the Secretariat led by the DG. In accordance with Article 8 ter, the DG is linked to the AU Commission Chairperson for administrative and financial oversight only.
The matters referenced in the article followed the full institutional process:
- 27 January 2026: Deliberated and examined by the Governing Board (with the Commissioner present as a non-voting member). No objections recorded as witnessed by the AUC Office of Legal Counsel;
- 9 February 2026: the 5th meeting of the CHSG adopted the report and recommendations from the Governing Board. No objections recorded as witnessed by the AUC Office of Legal Counsel;
- 14 February 2026: Decisions from the CHSG as presented by President Lourenco, as the Chair of the CHSG, were adopted.
AU is well organized. Decisions adopted through these mechanisms cannot be revisited outside established institutional channels. The relevant AU Assembly decisions are publicly available here:
https://au.int/en/decisions/decisions-declarations-and-resolution-thirty-ninth-ordinary-session-assembly-union
Decisions raised in your article and extracted from the AU website are as follows:
Paragraph 16. APPROVES the establishment of an independent High-Level African Medical Scientific Committee under the auspices of Africa CDC in collaboration with African Medicines Agency (AMA) and the Commission, to identify and recognize outstanding African excellence in medicine and public health; AUTHORIZES the creation of the “African Medicine Prize”; and DECIDES that the Prize shall be awarded annually, on the margins of the AU Assembly, and conferred by the Chairperson of the African Union;
Paragraph 17. ALSO APPROVES the establishment and appointment of an African High-Level Ministerial Committee on the Reform of the Global Health Architecture, and REQUESTS Africa CDC to report on progress achieved.
3. Claims of Lack of Consultation
The assertion that the Commissioner was not consulted is false. No objection was recorded. The concerns now reported in the media were not raised during these deliberations.
Under Article 13(3) of Africa CDC Statute, the role of the Commissioner is to serve as a non-voting member of the Governing Board, with the right to participate in discussions alongside other non-voting members.
Any attempt from the Commissioner to reverse or alter decisions already adopted by the Governing Board, CHSG, Executive Council, or AU Assembly through informal or non-institutional channels would not be acceptable because it could undermine the integrity of the Union’s governance framework and the authority of African heads of State and Government.
4. Governance and Financial Management
Previous criticisms, sourced from anonymous letters, were found unsubstantiated by multiple independent audits. Africa CDC and the DG have not received any condemnation or adverse finding from any competent AU organ. On the contrary — and this is what the article omits — the Governing Board, the Committee of Heads of State, the Executive Council and the AU Assembly in February 2025 and February 2026 commended Africa CDC for strengthened leadership, institutional development, governance and financial management, and further commended its transparency, accountability, and the Africa Health Security and Sovereignty (AHSS) agenda.
Under AU Assembly decision from February 2026 Assembly/AU/Dec.966(XXXIX) paragraph 7 states :
“(AU Assembly) COMMENDS Africa CDC for strengthened continental leadership, institutional development, governance, and financial management from 2023 to date under the leadership of the Director General, Dr. Jean Kaseya, resulting in:
(i) the articulation of a clear continental vision through the AHSS Agenda.
(ii) an increase in the internally managed grant portfolio from USD 52 million in 2022 to USD 462 million in 2025, and the mobilization of approximately USD 40 billion in direct partner support to Member States.
(iii) improved budget execution from 34% to 95% over the same period; and
(iv) a reduction in disease outbreaks in 2025 compared to the preceding three years, reflecting sustained investments in surveillance, genomic sequencing, National Public Health Institutes, Public Health Emergency Operations Centres, digital health, local manufacturing, and related initiatives;
In addition, in 2025, the DG received two national honors: Commander of the National Order of Mauritania (February 2025) and Commander of the Order of the Eagle of Zambia (September 2025) – conferred in recognition of his leadership in public health and his contribution to building a transparent, accountable, and high-performing institution in service of Africa.
Conclusion
The article’s narrative does not reflect the statutory framework, the documented procedural process, or the formal decisions of the African Union: the governance structure is clear, the procedural chain is documented, and the Assembly’s decisions are authoritative and final.
Africa CDC remains fully focused on delivering its mandate to strengthen health security and sovereignty across the continent. Africa CDC therefore requests that this right of reply be published in full and with equivalent prominence to the original article.
