Barbara Plett Usher

Several African governments are resisting new US bilateral health agreements promoted under Donald Trump, citing concerns over data sovereignty, economic leverage, and the linking of health funding to American strategic interests. Cuts to USAID programs and the US withdrawal from the WHO have weakened disease-response capacities in some African countries, especially during the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Supporters argue the new US strategy aims to encourage national investment and reduce dependency, while critics warn it prioritizes American commercial interests and undermines multilateral cooperation. Adoption across Africa remains uneven and contentious.

African governments are divided over new US bilateral health deals that tie funding to increased local spending, data sharing and prioritisation of American pharmaceutical interests. Kenya’s agreement has faced court challenges, while Ghana, Zambia and Zimbabwe have rejected terms over concerns about sovereignty, data access and links to US commercial or strategic priorities. Cuts to USAID and withdrawal from the WHO have weakened responses to outbreaks such as Ebola in DR Congo, according to humanitarian groups. Supporters argue the new approach promotes national responsibility, but critics warn that bilateral arrangements undermine global cooperation and reflect transactional US interests. Adoption across Africa remains inconsistent and contentious.

Several African governments are rejecting new US bilateral health agreements that tie funding to increased national health spending, data-sharing requirements and preferential access for American pharmaceutical firms. The restructuring follows the Trump administration’s closure of USAID and withdrawal from the WHO, shifting global health efforts toward direct deals aligned with US commercial and strategic interests. Kenya’s agreement has faced legal challenges, while Ghana, Zimbabwe and Zambia cite concerns over data sovereignty and linkages to US economic priorities. Cuts to multilateral and country-level health programmes have weakened the response to recent Ebola outbreaks, according to humanitarian groups and former US officials. Supporters argue the new strategy could yield more efficient partnerships, but adoption across Africa remains uneven and contentious.