The 76th session of the World Health Organization’s Regional Committee for Africa opened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on August 25, 2026, with Niger securing a prominent leadership role.
Colonel-Major Garba Hakimi, Niger’s Minister of Public Health and Hygiene, was elected First Vice-President of the bureau, while the presidency of the session went to the host country, Ethiopia.
The session, themed “A New Era for Health in Africa: Concerted Action for Vision 2035,” brings together health ministers and representatives from the WHO’s 47 African member states.
According to a report from the Nigerien Ministry of Public Health and Hygiene, the agenda focuses on major public health challenges facing the continent.
The official opening ceremony took place at the Adwa Martyrs’ Memorial, a site chosen for its symbolism of Ethiopia’s sovereignty, as the country was never colonized. The ceremony was chaired by the President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
The Nigerien delegation, led by Minister Hakimi and accompanied by officials from Niger’s embassy in Ethiopia—including Chargé d’Affaires Harouna Hamidou—attended the opening remarks delivered by senior regional and international leaders.
Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie addressed the gathering, stressing the urgency for Africa to build lasting health sovereignty in the face of public health emergencies. Ethiopian Health Minister Dr.
Mekdes Daba emphasized the need to translate political commitments into practical, concrete actions. Professor Mohamed Yakub Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, recalled the necessity of continental unity and cooperation as an essential bulwark against future health crises.
The WHO Director-General addressed participants via videoconference.
Following the opening ceremony, delegations moved to the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) for the session’s proceedings.
Members of the Credentials Committee were also appointed during the deliberations.
As a gesture of hospitality, a gala dinner was offered to the delegations, with Ethiopian culture in the spotlight.
Source: Le Sahel