December Deals: U.S. Signs Bilateral Health Agreements With 14 African Countries – With Some Key Exceptions

9 January 2026

Over December, the United States signed bilateral health co-operation agreements with 14 African countries, setting out the parameters for aid in exchange for speedy information about new disease outbreaks – and, in some instances, clinched alongside trade deals profitable to US companies.

The fourteen countries, in order of when the agreements were signed, are: Kenya, Rwanda, Liberia, Uganda, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Cameroon, Nigeria, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Botswana, Ethiopia and Cote d’Ivoire.

Grant agreements still need to be crafted from the memorandums of understanding, which are characterised by vague disease targets and tight pathogen-sharing terms.

Notable absences are South Africa, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo – all with high disease burdens that previously received significant grants from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Read the full news story here.

Source: Health Policy Watch