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The United States convened a G20+ foreign ministers meeting in New York on September 23, 2026, on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly to mobilize support and improve coordination for ending the Ebola outbreak in Africa. The gathering included representatives from G20 members, additional partner countries, the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, as well as international organizations including the Africa CDC. According to an Africa CDC assessment, the meeting produced a historic mobilization of resources totaling some $2.9 billion in cash and in-kind assistance.
Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya welcomed the outcome while calling for rapid conversion of pledges into action. “The meeting demonstrated what can be achieved when political leadership, affected countries and international partners unite behind one objective to stop transmission, save lives and end the outbreak,” the agency said in a statement. Kaseya added that every dollar must be traceable from commitment through to services delivered in affected communities, emphasizing full transparency and accountability in implementation.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that Saudi Arabia participated in the meeting with Deputy Minister of Health for International Cooperation Nouf Alnumair representing Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. Discussions centered on strengthening international coordination to contain the virus, bolstering response measures in affected areas and building more resilient health systems across the region. Participants highlighted the importance of epidemiological surveillance, diagnostics, frontline response and capacity building to curb transmission and prevent cross-border spread.
Commitments announced in connection with the meeting contributed around $700 million to the overall total, with the United States providing $887 million, the European Union $568 million and the World Bank $433 million among the leading donors, Africa CDC figures show. The agency noted that African countries themselves pledged $110 million while other partners including philanthropies and financial institutions made substantial contributions. This funding is intended to support cross-border activities, align with national priorities in affected nations and reach frontline workers swiftly.
The Ebola response has gained renewed urgency as the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to battle ongoing transmission in parts of the country. Uganda successfully ended its Ebola outbreak on August 27, 2026, providing valuable lessons for the wider effort, according to Africa CDC briefings. The continental body has promoted a village-centered strategy that places communities at the core of detection, trust-building and transmission interruption.
Africa CDC is co-leading the incident management support team alongside the World Health Organization, leveraging its mandate for continental coordination as the African Union’s public health agency. The meeting served to connect high-level political commitments directly to the needs of affected communities and responders on the ground. Officials stressed that sustained international cooperation remains essential to fully defeat the outbreak and strengthen preparedness for future health threats.
