Africa: Africa CDC Welcomes the Appointment of Dr Mark Dybul As Executive Director of the Global Fund and Calls for a New Era of African Ownership and Health Sovereignty

What the report says

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says it welcomes the appointment of Dr Mark Dybul as the next executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. In a statement carried by AllAfrica, the AU health agency said it expects the leadership change to support closer cooperation on Africa’s health priorities, especially around African ownership, sustainable financing and health sovereignty.

Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya spoke with Dybul by phone on 7 November and congratulated him on the appointment, according to the statement. The agency said the moment is significant because African governments are pressing for a stronger role in deciding health priorities, funding and implementation, while external financing faces pressure and global health institutions are under reform.

The statement also acknowledged the Global Fund’s past role in supporting HIV, tuberculosis and malaria responses across the continent, as well as the outgoing executive director Peter Sands. Africa CDC said it wants future cooperation to help strengthen national health systems, domestic resource mobilization, regional procurement and local manufacturing of health products.

The agency said a memorandum of understanding signed with the Global Fund in May 2026 provides a basis for deeper collaboration. It also pointed to the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism as a way to improve access to medicines, diagnostics and other health technologies made in Africa.