The African Union (AU) has expressed dismay at US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), urging his administration to reconsider.
President Trump signed an executive order on Monday, just hours after taking office, directing the US to exit the UN agency, a move that threatens global health initiatives with funding shortfalls.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, AU Commission Chairman, said in a statement that he was “dismayed to learn of the US government’s announcement” and stressed the importance of WHO in ensuring global public health security.
Impact on Africa and Global Health
The withdrawal comes as Africa battles health crises, including recent outbreaks of mpox and Marburg viruses. Mahamat highlighted Washington’s early support for the Africa CDC, the AU’s health watchdog, which collaborates closely with WHO to combat pandemics.
“Now more than ever, the world depends on WHO to ensure global public health security as a shared common good,” he said, expressing hope that the US would reverse its decision.
Criticism of Trump’s Move
Trump has previously criticised the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, accusing it of bias and inefficiency. The US had initiated a withdrawal during Trump’s first term, a move later reversed by Joe Biden.
Experts warn of the implications of this decision. Former US health official Tom Frieden wrote that it “weakens America’s influence, increases the risk of a deadly pandemic, and makes all of us less safe.”
Pandemic Treaty Without US
The decision also impacts ongoing negotiations among WHO member states to establish a treaty for managing future pandemics, which will now proceed without the US.
The move has sparked fears, particularly amid growing concerns over bird flu, which recently claimed its first human life in the United States.
