'No health sovereignty without people,' activists warns Ruto, Macron ahead of summit

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More than 100 civil society organisations from 32 countries have accused African and French leaders of sidelining communities in health policy talks ahead of the 2026 Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi.

 The coalition warned that governments risk weakening Africa’s push for health sovereignty if they continue to design policies without community participation, despite civil society groups leading prevention, treatment, and accountability efforts across the continent.

In a joint statement released on Sunday, the groups demanded that leaders place equity, domestic investment and community-led priorities at the centre of the Nairobi Declaration expected from the summit co-hosted by President William Ruto and President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, May 11 and Tuesday, May 12.

The organisations argued that Africa cannot claim health sovereignty while depending on donor-driven priorities and excluding communities from decision-making.

“We regret that civil society has had limited opportunities to meaningfully participate in the Africa Forward Summit despite our essential role in delivering prevention, care and shaping public health policies and ensuring accountability,” the statement said.

The coalition said shrinking global aid, funding cuts and rising inequality now threaten gains made against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria across Africa.

The groups noted that the Global Fund’s eighth replenishment secured $12.64 billion (Sh 1.63 trillion) in 2025, falling short of its $18 billion (Sh 2.32 trillion) target needed to support programmes between 2027 and 2029.

They warned that recent cuts in international health financing have already disrupted treatment, increased medicine shortages and strained community health systems in several African countries.

“You cannot drive Africa forward without strengthening health systems and you cannot speak about health without putting people at the centre,” said Rosemary Mburu, executive director of WACI Health.

“Sovereignty is a pathway with milestones and solidarity means partners journeying with African nations along that pathway guided by national priorities, not isolation,” said Mburu.

The coalition urged African governments to increase domestic health financing and reduce dependence on external aid, while also calling for reforms in global health governance.

The statement also called for local manufacturing of vaccines and medicines, noting that Africa still imports nearly all its vaccines and most pharmaceutical products despite bearing a large share of the global disease burden.

“African parliaments are watching this summit closely. We want to see results translate into functioning clinics and mothers who survive childbirth,” said Modou Lamin Bah, chairman of the Network of African Parliamentary Committees on Health.

“Sovereignty cannot be declared from a podium. It has to be legislated and accounted for at home,” said Bah.

The organisations said health sovereignty should not mean isolation from international cooperation but partnerships based on equality and African priorities.

“When our African leaders commit to sovereignty, and partners such as France commit to equitable partnerships, communities are not looking for new language. We are looking for a real change in our daily lives,” said Carol Nawina Nyirenda, executive director of the Community Initiative for Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and Malaria in Zambia.

“The true test for the summit is simple — will a woman in our community still have to choose between her health and her livelihood?” said Nyirenda.

The statement will be presented to African and French delegations attending the summit before feeding into discussions ahead of the Group of Seven summit in Évian, France, in June.