President Duma Boko has issued a stark warning that Africa’s fight against malaria is at a critical turning point, describing a “perfect storm” of declining funding, rising risks, and stalled progress that could reverse decades of gains if urgent action is not taken.

Delivering remarks at the Africa Malaria Progress Report 2025 on the margins of the during the African Union 39th Summit, Boko painted a sobering picture of the continent’s current trajectory, noting that despite years of effort and millions of lives saved, Africa remains off track to eliminate malaria by 2030.

Citing the latest data, he said the continent recorded approximately 271 million malaria cases and nearly 600,000 deaths in 2024 alone, accounting for the overwhelming majority of the global burden. While acknowledging progress in countries such as Rwanda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Eswatini, he stressed that these successes are not enough to offset broader stagnation.

At the center of his message was a growing financing crisis. Boko highlighted a sharp decline in official development assistance and disruptions in bilateral funding, alongside shortfalls in replenishment efforts for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. These gaps, he warned, are already forcing countries to scale back malaria programs, with potentially devastating consequences.

According to projections he cited, a sustained 30 percent reduction in malaria funding could result in nearly 400,000 additional deaths by 2030, most of them among children under five, while also costing African economies tens of billions of dollars in lost productivity. In this context, he framed malaria not only as a health crisis but as a direct threat to economic transformation and human security.

Boko’s address strongly emphasized the need for African leadership and self-reliance. He argued that while international partnerships remain essential, Africa must take primary responsibility for financing and managing its malaria response.

He pointed to growing efforts across the continent to mobilize domestic resources, including the establishment of End Malaria Councils that bring together governments, private sector actors, and civil society. These initiatives, he noted, have already generated significant funding and political momentum.

At the same time, he underscored the importance of innovation and smarter interventions. He highlighted the rollout of more effective dual active-ingredient mosquito nets and the rapid expansion of malaria vaccines, many of which have been introduced following guidance from the World Health Organization. These tools, he suggested, offer unprecedented opportunities to accelerate progress if deployed at scale and supported with adequate funding.

Beyond immediate interventions, Boko called for a longer-term shift toward health sovereignty, warning that Africa’s heavy dependence on imported vaccines and medicines leaves it vulnerable. Strengthening local manufacturing and innovation, he argued, will be critical to building resilient health systems capable of responding to current and future challenges.

The Botswanan leader adopted a tone of urgency combined with resolve, repeatedly framing the moment as a decisive choice for the continent. He urged governments to treat malaria financing as a non-negotiable priority in national budgets and to adopt data-driven accountability tools to track progress and ensure efficient use of resources.

Boko rallied African leaders around what he described as a “big push” to end malaria, emphasizing that success will depend on unity, innovation, and sustained political will.

The President’s message was clear: the fight against malaria is still winnable, but only if Africa acts decisively now to take control of its own future.