AU Urges US to Reconsider WHO Withdrawal Decision

The African Union (AU) has expressed deep concern over President Donald Trump’s recent decision to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), calling for a reconsideration of the move.

In a statement on Wednesday, African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat voiced his dismay at the announcement, made shortly after Trump signed an executive order on Monday to end the US’s membership in the UN health agency.

The decision, which could significantly impact global health funding, comes as Africa grapples with health challenges such as mpox and Marburg virus outbreaks.

“The world now depends more than ever on WHO to uphold global public health security as a collective responsibility,” Mahamat stated, urging the US administration to reverse its stance.

He also noted the US’s longstanding support for the Africa CDC, the AU’s health agency that collaborates with WHO to tackle pandemics.

The withdrawal reignites criticism of Trump’s handling of global health matters.

During his first term, Trump initiated a similar pullout, which was later reversed by his successor, Joe Biden.

Trump has frequently accused WHO of mismanagement, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, claiming the organisation failed the US.

Health experts, including former US health official Tom Frieden, have raised alarms over the implications of this decision.

Writing on X, Frieden warned that the move weakens America’s influence, heightens the threat of global pandemics, and diminishes public health security.

The announcement coincides with growing concerns about a potential bird flu pandemic, which recently claimed its first human victim in the US.

Meanwhile, WHO member states continue negotiations on a treaty addressing future pandemics—a process now set to proceed without US involvement.