ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 16, 2026 — African leaders have thrown their weight behind one of the continent’s most ambitious industrial projects in decades: building a domestic health-products industry large enough to supply most of Africa’s medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and medical equipment within a generation.
A declaration adopted on Feb. 14 on the sidelines of the African Union’s 39th Summit commits governments to meet at least 60% of Africa’s health-product demand through local manufacturing by 2040, backed by pooled procurement, targeted financing, and regulatory integration across the continent.
Behind the public-health framing lies a hard-nosed economic calculation: Africa’s heavy reliance on imports drains foreign exchange, exposes countries to supply shocks, and leaves governments vulnerable during crises — risks laid bare during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A $50-Billion Market Up for Capture
Africa’s pharmaceutical market is projected to exceed $50 billion within the next decade, yet the vast majority of that spending flows to foreign producers.
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