At the 39th African Union Summit held in Addis Ababa, African Heads of State and Government collectively urged for a new era of financing to combat malaria. This call to action comes in light of a worrying trend marked by stalled progress in combating the disease, a decrease in international funding, and growing threats to public health. The leaders emphasized the urgent need for resources to sustain and enhance efforts against malaria, stressing that without such measures, the continent risks losing substantial gains achieved over the past decades.

The urgency of the situation was underlined by the presentation of the African Union Malaria Progress Report 2025, delivered by President Duma Boko from Botswana, who chairs the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA). The report painted a grim picture of the malaria crisis in Africa, highlighting that the WHO African Region bears an enormous share of the global malaria burden, responsible for approximately 95% of all malaria cases and deaths in 2024. This statistic showcases the dire need for renewed efforts and investment to combat this long-standing public health issue.

Moreover, the report stressed that vulnerable groups, particularly children under five, bear the brunt of malaria's devastating impact, with about 76% of malaria-related deaths occurring in this age group. The leaders' unified call for action at the AU summit serves as a critical reminder of the ongoing challenges in malaria control and the potential for further deterioration if immediate steps are not taken to secure necessary funding and support for vital malaria prevention and treatment initiatives across the continent.