The African Heralds (2025)

07/02/2025

MSF teams in three different parts of Sudan - Khartoum, North Darfur and South Darfur states - treated mass influxes of war-wounded patients as the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continued, with little respect shown for civilian life.

On 4 February in Nyala, South Darfur, 21 injured patients were brought to the MSF-supported Nyala Teaching Hospital after airstrikes by the Sudanese Armed Forces hit a peanut oil factory , with reports of 25 people killed. On 3 February, airstrikes hit residential areas of Nyala, hitting and destroying civilian houses. The airstrikes took place in the afternoon when many people were around. Thirty-two people were reportedly killed and dozens injured, with many patients brought to the Nyala Teaching Hospital.

An MSF doctor was working in the hospital when the airstrikes took place.

“The bombing was near the hospital. We felt the building shaking. Once I went to the ER the situation was horrible. Blood was everywhere, some patients were suffering from fractures, some had limbs amputated. While I was going around the ER, I saw two children. One was four years old, the other was two years old. Their aunt told us that this child had lost three of her siblings and her mother had died, and only her older brother and father survived because they were at work.

Civilians have also been killed in El Fasher, North Darfur state, the scene of fierce clashes in recent months. Over the last few days, MSF teams have been treating wounded civilians in Zamzam camp after escalating heavy fighting between the RSF and SAF and their Joint Forces allies resulted in scores of casualties. On 2 February, the MSF field hospital in Zamzam camp received 21 wounded patients, more than half of whom were children, who had been injured while fleeing Shagra, a village in El Fasher locality.

MSF’s field hospital in Zamzam is for paediatric and maternal healthcare and is not equipped to handle trauma injuries requiring surgery. The only remaining surgical services were a few kilometres away, yet people were unable to use the road between Zamzam and El Fasher due to the ongoing fighting and shifting frontlines.

Patients in critical condition were trapped in Zamzam camp with no access to lifesaving care. Four patients among the wounded subsequently passed away, while five patients were successfully referred to El Fasher on 3 February, where the Saudi hospital remains somewhat functional. This is despite relentless attacks, with a recent bombing of the facility on 24 January reportedly killing 70 people.

Thousands of people fleeing from Shagra have arrived in Zamzam in recent days, leaving everything behind in desperate search of safety. They have told our teams of horrific violence in the area. About 60 families from Shagra also arrived in Tawila, where MSF runs an emergency programme providing emergency, malnutrition, paediatric, and maternal healthcare. They told MSF teams that people were robbed and attacked as they fled along the road.

Violence has also intensified in Khartoum state since the beginning of February. On 4 February, during RSF shelling of Omdurman there were explosions within 100 meters of the MSF-supported Al Nao hospital. The Ministry of Health reported that 38 people were injured and six people were killed, including a volunteer from the Al Nao initiative, in which people volunteer to assist in running the hospital.

This is the second time medical staff working at the hospital have responded to a mass influx of wounded patients in recent days. On 1 February, an RSF attack on a market on killed 54 people, according to the Ministry of Health. Since the war in Sudan started, Al Nao hospital has been hit by explosions three times; in August 2023, October 2023, and June 2024.

“The violence that the Rapid Support Forces and Sudanese Armed Forces are inflicting on civilians right across Sudan is tragic and appalling,” says Ozan Agbas, MSF’s emergency manager. “The violence continues ruining lives, making it harder for people to access healthcare and putting healthcare workers at risk. We urge the warring parties to protect civilian life and spare them from this war on people.”

This article was originally published on AllAfrica.

MSF teams in three different parts of Sudan - Khartoum, North Darfur and South Darfur states - treated mass influxes of war-wounded patients as the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continued, with little respect shown for civilian life. On 4 February in

07/02/2025

The military junta in Niger has ordered the International Committee of the Red Cross to leave the country. The regime, which has made sovereignty a key issue, did not give any details about the decision.

The Foreign Affairs ministry asked the ICRC to leave the country after denouncing certain agreements, a civil society source in Niger told RFI.

Some foreigners working with the NGO in Niger have already begun to leave the country, and the delegation's office has been closed since Tuesday, according to the AFP news agency.

No official reason was given for the decision to shut down the ICRC. The French NGO ACTED and its Nigeran partner APBE had a similar experience in November.

Red Cross in Niger for 35 years

The ICRC, which published a report on its activities in Niger during the first half of 2024 on Tuesday, the day its expulsion was announced, has not yet reacted publicly,

In the report, the ICRC says it has been present in Niger since 1990, and highlights its provision of healthcare to over 120,000 victims of armed conflict last year.

Niger's current regime, which came to power in July 2023 through a military coup, has made national sovereignty one of its priorities, and it has notably expelled French and American soldiers engaged in anti-terrorism operations, and it joined other Sahel countries in withdrawing from the Ecowas regional bloc.

Threats to sovereignty

At the end of January, Interior Minister General Mohamed Toumba said he was taking "important measures to monitor and supervise NGOs and development organisations".

He added that the junta has found that "many NGOs are involved with these partners who are waging war against us... through the support they often give to terrorists".

This article originally appeared on the RFI.

The military junta in Niger has ordered the International Committee of the Red Cross to leave the country. The regime, which has made sovereignty a key issue, did not give any details about the decision. The Foreign Affairs ministry asked the ICRC to leave the country after denouncing certain agre

06/02/2025

Allemagne, quart de finale de la Coupe

Chrislain Matsima, titulaire, et Augsbourg sont éliminés sur le terrain de Stuttgart (0-1). La formation bavaroise va désormais se consacrer sur le championnat (12e avec 12 points d'avance sur la zone rouge).

France, 8e de finale de la Coupe

Angers l'emporte à Strasbourg 3-1. Melvin Zinga était titulaire dans les buts et a été solide, à l'image de son arrêt en toute fin de rencontre.

Dilane Bakwa, qui soigne une entorse du genou, n'était dans le groupe.

Sans Bradley Locko, convalescent, Brest se qualifie à Troyes (2-1).

Suisse, 22e journée, 1re division

Buteur le week-end dernier, Morgan Poaty se mue en passeur décisif lors du match nul de Lausanne sur le terrain des Grasshoppers de Zurich (2-2). Le latéral gauche, titulaire pour la 21e fois de la saison, a donné le but du 2-2 à Oviedo après un raid entre quatre défenseurs et un petit pont sur Paskotsi (87e). En toute fin de match, il tire bon coup-franc prolongé jusqu'au deuxième poteau et qui aurait pu profiter à Mouanga, un peu court pour reprendre.

Remplaçant, le défenseur central est entré à la 69e, à 1-1.

Dans le derby du Rhône entre Sion et Genève, le Servette rapporte un point (3-3). Titulaire, Bradley Mazikou a mal débuté son match avec une passe en retrait dangereuse qui amène le corner de l'ouverture du score de Sion (13e). Plus inspiré à la 1a 53e sur l'action du 2-2, lorsqu'il lance Antunes après un beau mouvement à trois avec Crivelli.

Au classement, le Servette et Lausanne sont respectivement 4e et 5e avec 33 et 32 points.

Lire l'article original sur Les Dépêches de Brazzaville.

Allemagne, quart de finale de la Coupe Chrislain Matsima, titulaire, et Augsbourg sont éliminés sur le terrain de Stuttgart (0-1). La formation bavaroise va désormais se consacrer sur le championnat (12e avec 12 points d'avance sur la zone rouge). France, 8e de finale de la Coupe Angers l'emport

06/02/2025

Le ministère de la Santé publique, hygiène et prévoyance sociale a commémoré, mardi 4 février 2025 à l'INPSS situé sur Boulevard Triomphal à Kinshasa, la Journée mondiale de lutte contre le cancer. Le Ministre Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba a défini le cancer comme étant une maladie due à la multiplication désordonnée des cellules d'une partie du corps humain et peut se développer à partir de n'importe quel organe du corps humain. Il s'agit alors d'une Journée consacrée à la prévention, la détection d'un problème de santé publique qui touche des milliers de personnes chaque année.

Selon Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba, le cancer est la première cause de mortalité chez les hommes et les femmes. De nombreux types de cancers existent au sein de la société et quelques organes ou parties du corps humain les plus touchés sont notamment : chez la femme le cancer du col de l'utérus sur la partie basse de l'utérus et les seins. Tandis que chez l'homme, le cancer de la prostate et en suite, chez l'enfant les yeux, la rétine, les reins et les cellules du sang.

Toutefois, quelques chiffres importants ont été retenus dans le monde. A l'origine de 9743832 décès en 2022 sur 19976499 cas diagnostiqués, soit 50% de décès. Et, en Afrique le taux est de 1185216 cas diagnostiqués en 2022 avec 763843 décès. En RDC, le nombre de cas s'élève à 52612 avec 71,4% de décès, soit 37575 cas de décès.

Le cancer ne présente souvent aucun symptôme au début, c'est pourquoi le dépistage est essentiel. Cependant, à un stade avancé, certains signes peuvent apparaitre en fonction de l'organe touché.

La prévention est à la portée de tous et peut sauver des vies dans la sensibilisation qui favorise l'adoption d'un comportement favorable à la bonne santé par la communauté. Donc, la lutte contre les facteurs de risque externes, vaccination contre le papillomavirus humain (HPV) et le virus de l'Hépatite B, ainsi que le dépistage de façon régulière dont la prise en charge des cas des lésions précancéreuses et des cas de cancers avérés.

Facteurs de risque

La maladie de cancer présente plusieurs risques dangereux considérés comme chronique qui sont notamment : - Facteurs de risque non modifiables (internes); -Age ; même si les cancers peuvent apparaitre à tous les âges, ils deviennent de plus en plus fréquents au fil des années ; -Histoire familiale ; certains cancers présentent un caractère familial (parents, arrières-parents, etc.), -Facteurs de risque modifiables (externes); -Comportements ; tabac, alcool et mode de vie (sédentarisme, mauvaise alimentaire, surpoids).

Avant de clore cette journée mondiale, le Ministre de la Santé Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba a invité la population congolaise à respecter les mesures d'hygiène et de se faire dépister car le cancer peut être évité en prenant quelques précautions simples et en effectuant un dépistage régulier peut réduire considérablement le risque. Il n'est pas un sujet à prendre à la légère car la prévention est la clé pour vivre longtemps et en bonne santé.

Lire l'article original sur La Prospérité.

Le ministère de la Santé publique, hygiène et prévoyance sociale a commémoré, mardi 4 février 2025 à l'INPSS situé sur Boulevard Triomphal à Kinshasa, la Journée mondiale de lutte contre le cancer. Le Ministre Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba a défini le cancer comme étant une maladie due à ...

06/02/2025

L'intelligence artificielle (IA) représente un enjeu crucial pour le développement économique et social de l'Afrique de l'Est et de l'Océan Indien.

Cette technologie promet de transformer divers secteurs, notamment l'agriculture, la santé et l'éducation, en améliorant l'efficacité et en apportant des solutions innovantes. Cependant, le développement de l'IA dans certaines régions est freiné par des défis majeurs, tels que des infrastructures numériques insuffisantes et un manque de formation spécialisée.

Des pays comme le Kenya et le Rwanda se positionnent en leaders grâce à des politiques proactives et des investissements dans les compétences, tandis que d'autres, comme Madagascar, doivent intensifier leurs efforts pour ne pas être laissés pour compte. Actuellement, le pays se classe à la 141e place et figure parmi les derniers, selon l'index 2024 d'Oxford Insights.

Avenir

À Madagascar, le potentiel de l'IA est immense, mais plusieurs obstacles subsistent. Le gouvernement malgache a récemment exprimé son ambition de faire du pays un hub international de l'IA, en annonçant la création d'un institut dédié à cette technologie. Néanmoins, Madagascar fait face à un déficit de 40 000 techniciens qualifiés, indispensables à sa transformation numérique.

Les opportunités existent : des initiatives comme le Forum des Investisseurs à Madagascar témoignent d'un intérêt croissant pour les talents locaux. Toutefois, pour exploiter pleinement ce potentiel, il est crucial d'améliorer les infrastructures numériques et d'établir un cadre législatif adapté à l'IA. En surmontant ces défis, Madagascar pourrait non seulement renforcer son économie, mais aussi devenir un acteur clé de l'intelligence artificielle en Afrique.

Lire l'article original sur Midi Madagasikara.

L'intelligence artificielle (IA) représente un enjeu crucial pour le développement économique et social de l'Afrique de l'Est et de l'Océan Indien. Cette technologie promet de transformer divers secteurs, notamment l'agriculture, la santé et l'éducation, en améliorant l'efficacité et en appo...

06/02/2025

L'armée ougandaise rejette les affirmations selon lesquelles elle aurait déployé un millier de soldats supplémentaires dans l'est de la République démocratique du Congo. Kinshasa a affirmé, samedi, qu'il y a bien eu un renforcement des effectifs ougandais sur le terrain. Kampala, de son côté, reconnaît un redéploiement, mais insiste sur le fait qu'il s'inscrit exclusivement dans le cadre de l'opération Shujaa.

L'opération Shujaa est menée conjointement par l'Ouganda et la RDC contre les ADF (Allied Democratic Forces, affiliées à l'État islamique), depuis novembre 2021. L'objectif affiché est de venir à bout de ce groupe armé qui mène depuis dix ans des attaques sanglantes. En trois ans, des progrès ont été enregistrés. C'est ce qu'assurait le président Museveni en décembre. Des déclarations contestées en RDC d'autant que les ADF ont intensifié leurs attaques en pleine offensive des rebelles du M23 dans l'est de la République démocratique du Congo.

Ce récent déploiement d'effectifs ougandais intervient alors que les combats entre le M23 et l'armée congolaise se poursuivent dans l'est de la RDC, alimentant les spéculations sur le rôle de l'Ouganda dans la région.

« Nous renforçons nos déploiements, conformément à notre engagement dans l'opération Shujaa. Nos bases avancées vont être renforcées. Cela implique de nombreux ajustements, tant au niveau des tactiques militaires que du déploiement des opérations, afin que nos troupes se concentrent sur ces bases avancées pour empêcher toute incursion dans notre secteur et à proximité de nos frontières, en raison des conflits à Goma et dans d'autres zones entre le M23 et les FARDC.

Les troupes que nous avons encore en RDC restent dans les limites des effectifs prévus pour l'opération Shujaa, nous assure Deo Akiki, porte-parole adjoint de l'armée ougandaise.

Nous n'avons mené aucune opération visant le M23, car cela ne relève pas de notre mandat. Notre mission, convenue avec les forces conjointes de la RDC, concerne la lutte contre les ADF et potentiellement toute autre force négative présente dans la zone où nous avons accepté d'opérer aux côtés de l'armée congolaise.

Je n'ai donc aucun commentaire à faire sur les questions relatives au M23 et à la situation actuelle avec les forces de la RDC. »

Deo Akiki, porte-parole adjoint de l'armée ougandaise, a été joint par Christina Okello, de la rédaction Afrique.

Cliquez ici pour lire l'article sur le site de RFI.

L'armée ougandaise rejette les affirmations selon lesquelles elle aurait déployé un millier de soldats supplémentaires dans l'est de la République démocratique du Congo. Kinshasa a affirmé, samedi, qu'il y a bien eu un renforcement des effectifs ougandais sur le terrain. Kampala, de son côt....

05/02/2025

Legendary Zimbabwe cricketer Tatenda Taibu is excited that his nation will once more be playing regular Test cricket in 2025.

The 41-year-old who played 195 matches for Zimbabwe combined across all formats, was reacting to the news that the Southern African nation is scheduled to play nine Tests in 2025.

Their schedule includes playing England in May on their home turf for the first time in 22 years, before they host South Africa and New Zealand in Zimbabwe.

With Zimbabwe not currently included among the nine teams competing in the World Test Championship (WTC), a revitalised scheduled will do much to plead their case to be included among the top nations in the future.

"I commend them for doing this. Test cricket was always big in Zimbabwe, but the country went through problems [in the mid-2000s], we didn't play for six years [2005-2011] and started again," Taibu told Sportsboom.com.

"Zimbabwe has not gone down because they love Test cricket. You have youngsters who want to play Test cricket as a profession, knowing that the coaching will be expensive."

Taibu who played 150 One-Day Internationals and 28 Tests for Zimbabwe, was, however, concerned about the development of cricket in the country.

"The country has been going through economic problems. It plays a role in the development of any sport. I don't think the administrators have made a concerted effort to find new cricketers who are better than before. If you have 10,000 cricketers in the country, increasing the number to 15,000 increases your chances of quality.

"You need to spread cricket to the rural areas; that's where most of the numbers are. You will find the guys scoring hundreds and taking fifers. You will feel like following those players to other games. While you are watching them, you may spot someone else. Then you put all the diamonds and gold in one place, and then only you can unearth someone like Andy Flower."

This article originally appeared on New Zimbabwe.

Legendary Zimbabwe cricketer Tatenda Taibu is excited that his nation will once more be playing regular Test cricket in 2025. The 41-year-old who played 195 matches for Zimbabwe combined across all formats, was reacting to the news that the Southern African nation is scheduled to play nine Tests

05/02/2025

The future of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. government's primary overseas aid agency, has been cast into doubt. Reports suggest that the Trump administration plans to merge USAID with the U.S. Department of State, significantly reducing its funding and workforce. This move could have far-reaching implications for global humanitarian efforts, including critical programs in Malawi.

USAID, established in the early 1960s, administers humanitarian aid programs worldwide. It employs around 10,000 people, with two-thirds working overseas. The agency operates in over 60 countries and funds initiatives ranging from famine relief and health programs to disaster response and environmental conservation. For instance, USAID has played a pivotal role in Malawi by supporting agricultural development, healthcare, and education, helping to address food insecurity and improve livelihoods.

In Malawi, USAID has been instrumental in combating HIV/AIDS, improving maternal and child health, and promoting climate-resilient agriculture. The agency has also supported initiatives to strengthen democratic governance and economic growth. For example, USAID-funded programs have helped smallholder farmers adopt modern farming techniques, increasing crop yields and reducing poverty. Additionally, USAID has partnered with local organizations to provide clean water and sanitation services, significantly improving public health outcomes.

However, the Trump administration's plan to merge USAID with the State Department and slash its budget threatens these vital programs. President Donald Trump and his adviser Elon Musk have criticized USAID, arguing that overseas spending does not represent value for American taxpayers. Trump has described senior USAID officials as "radical lunatics" and has long advocated for cutting foreign aid. This stance aligns with his "America First" policy, which prioritizes domestic interests over international commitments.

The potential closure or downsizing of USAID could have severe consequences for Malawi, a country heavily reliant on foreign aid to address its developmental challenges. Malawi ranks among the world's poorest nations, with high levels of food insecurity, limited access to healthcare, and vulnerability to climate change. USAID's programs have been a lifeline for millions of Malawians, providing essential services and fostering long-term development.

For instance, USAID's Feed the Future initiative has helped Malawian farmers increase agricultural productivity and adapt to climate change. The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), funded through USAID, has provided life-saving antiretroviral treatment to thousands of Malawians living with HIV. If USAID's funding is reduced or redirected, these programs could face significant disruptions, jeopardizing the progress made in improving health, food security, and economic stability in Malawi.

The Trump administration's proposal to merge USAID with the State Department is not without precedent. In 2020, the UK government merged its Department for International Development (DFID) with the Foreign Office, a move criticized for undermining the effectiveness of British aid. Similarly, critics argue that merging USAID with the State Department could politicize humanitarian aid, reducing its focus on poverty alleviation and development.

While President Trump cannot unilaterally abolish USAID--its creation was mandated by Congress--he can significantly curtail its operations through executive actions. Any attempt to dismantle USAID would likely face legal challenges and opposition from Congress, where Democrats and some Republicans have expressed support for maintaining robust foreign aid programs.

In conclusion, the potential closure or restructuring of USAID poses a significant threat to global humanitarian efforts, including those in Malawi. As one of the largest recipients of U.S. aid, Malawi stands to lose critical support for healthcare, agriculture, and climate resilience if USAID's funding is cut. The international community, including Malawian policymakers, must closely monitor these developments and advocate for the preservation of programs that have transformed lives and communities across the globe.

This article was originally featured in the Nyasa Times.

The future of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. government's primary overseas aid agency, has been cast into doubt. Reports suggest that the Trump administration plans to merge USAID with the U.S. Department of State, significantly reducing its funding and work

05/02/2025

Swapo's planned extraordinary congress at the end of February is allegedly designed to prevent current ministers who might not make it to parliament from contesting president-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah for the presidency of the party.

Swapo decided at its retreat in Windhoek in December to hold its extraordinary congress on 28 February to endorse Nandi-Ndaitwah as party president. The vice president position will remain vacant.

A Swapo insider yesterday told The Namibian the party plans to have another extraordinary congress to elect the vice president.

"If you look at our parliamentary list, many of the current ministers might not make it to parliament. Those who might not be brought back may team up and contest her for the party's presidency if the party was to hold the extraordinary congress in April," the insider said.

"There is a plan to arrange another extraordinary congress that will elect the vice president of the party. She wants to go to 2027 with the full top four officials," the source said.

This rationale was confirmed by two Swapo central committee members this week.

However, Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga denied these suggestions, saying the party took a decision to hold its extraordinary meeting before the founding date of the party, 19 April.

"So 28 February to 1 March is before 19 April," he says.

Former Swapo think tank member Ben Mulongeni says the decision is not a good one, as it will further divide the party.

"Many people will not support it and it will cause division. Any decision of that nature shall be seen to be violating the governance rules and must be rejected". He says divisions within Swapo have lost the party seats in parliament.

Political analyst Henning Melber says Swapo needs to go forward with a clean slate.

"This means that all senior positions in the party ought to be up for election, and every member having the defined qualifying merits should be allowed to enter the contest. It is nonsensical to have the same person in the position of party president and vice president," Melber says.

He says the president and vice president's positions are two separate offices and should not be held by one person.

"If such a person would share Geingob's unfortunate and sad fate, the party would have neither a president nor a vice president. This is ridiculous," Melber says.

According to him, Swapo is on the verge of losing all credibility with parts of its membership when it seeks what he calls 'pseudo-solutions'.

"If the current manipulations are democracy [in] the Swapo style, it is worrisome for the democratic understanding and practices of the elected next head of state and government," he says.

The Namibian reported last week that former minister Jerry Ekandjo wrote to Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa last week, alleging that the decision to endorse Nandi-Ndaitwah as party president is unconstitutional.

"All the members of the central committee know very well that all the positions in the party structures, from the sections up to the central committee, politburo and even the top four, are to be contested. They also know that the term 'endorsement' is not one that is used in the Swapo's constitution," said Ekandjo.

This article was originally published by The Namibian.

Swapo's planned extraordinary congress at the end of February is allegedly designed to prevent current ministers who might not make it to parliament from contesting president-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah for the presidency of the party. Swapo decided at its retreat in Windhoek in December to hold

05/02/2025

In a global first, Uganda’s Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners today launched a first-ever clinical efficacy trial for a vaccine from Ebola from the Sudan species of the virus, and at an unprecedented speed for a randomized vaccine trial, in an emergency. This is the first trial to assess the clinical efficacy of a vaccine against Ebola Sudan virus disease. IAVI, the provider of the vaccine, conducted trials for safety and immunogenicity. It is also the first clinical trial of the vaccine during an outbreak.

The principal investigators from Makerere University and the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), with support from WHO and other partners, have worked tirelessly to get the trial ready in 4 days since the outbreak was confirmed on 30 January. It is the first trial to assess the clinical efficacy of a vaccine against Ebola disease due to Sudan virus. The speed was achieved through advanced research preparedness, while ensuring full compliance with national and international regulatory and ethical requirements.

The candidate vaccine was donated by IAVI, with financial support from WHO, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and the European Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) and support from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

“This is a critical achievement towards better pandemic preparedness, and saving lives when outbreaks occur,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General. “This is possible because of the dedication of Uganda’s health workers, the involvement of communities, the Ministry of Health of Uganda, Makerere University and UVRI, and research efforts led by WHO involving hundreds of scientists through our research and development Filoviruses network. We thank our partners for their dedication and cooperation, from IAVI for donating the vaccine, to CEPI, EU HERA and Canada’s IDRC for funding, and Africa CDC for further support. This massive achievement would simply not be possible without them.”

In 2022, during the previous outbreak of Ebola disease (also from the Sudan species of the virus) in Uganda, a randomized protocol for candidate vaccines was developed. Principal investigators were designated under the leadership of the Minister of Health, and teams were trained to allow such a trial to take place during an active outbreak.

The randomized vaccine trial to assess the recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) candidate vaccine was launched at a ceremony in Kampala today by the Minister of Health of Uganda. WHO is co-sponsoring the trial. WHO was represented by Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme and Deputy Director-General, and the WHO representative to Uganda Dr Kasonde Mwinga, along with other colleagues.

Three vaccination rings were defined today. The first ring involves about 40 contacts and contacts of contacts of the first reported and confirmed case, a health worker who has died.

Although several promising candidate medical countermeasures are progressing through clinical development, as of now, there is no licensed vaccine available to effectively combat a potential future outbreak of Ebola disease from the Sudan species of the virus. Licensed vaccines exist only for the disease caused by Ebola virus, formerly known as Zaïre ebolavirus. Likewise for treatments, approved treatments are only available for Ebola virus.

The vaccine for the trial was recommended by the independent WHO candidate vaccine prioritization working group. If the candidate vaccine is effective, it can contribute to controlling this outbreak and generate data for vaccine licensure.

In 2022, the research teams were trained in good clinical practice (GCP) and standard operating procedures for such trials. They completed refresher training in recent days. WHO colleagues experienced in trials and in ring vaccination arrived in Uganda over the weekend to support the trial implementation and GCP compliance.

The vaccine doses were pre-positioned in the country. WHO worked with the principal investigators and national authorities and the vaccine developer to review cold chain documentation and ensure the doses were stored correctly over the previous years. As part of the signed agreement with the Ministry of Health, WHO has a signed agreement with IAVI for additional doses of the candidate vaccine to be made available shortly.

Notes to editors

The trial is a ring vaccination cluster randomized trial designed to assess the effect of one single, promptly given, dose of the candidate vaccine whose safety and immunogenicity have already been demonstrated in Phase 1, in protecting recent contacts and contacts of contacts of a newly confirmed case of Sudan virus disease (SVD).

Ring vaccination consists of the targeted vaccination of the recent contacts of an index case. It might protect the individual vaccinated or help create a small buffer zone of immunized people that could limit propagation of the infection.

The ring vaccination trial involves a population at increased risk of infection as they have recently been in contact with a case of SVD, so it may well provide useful information about the protection of such case-contacts quickly, within just a few months.

The same study design was used in the Ebola ça suffit trial in Guinea in 2015 by WHO and the Ministry of Health of Guinea to evaluate a now-licensed vaccine against a different species of ebolavirus.

On 4 February 2025, a correction was made to the opening sentence of this news release as noted below.

The sentence in the original news release read:

In a global first, Uganda’s Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners today launched a first ever vaccine trial for Ebola from the Sudan species of the virus, and at an unprecedented speed for a randomized vaccine trial in an emergency.

This was changed to:

In a global first, Uganda’s Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners today launched a first-ever clinical efficacy trial for a vaccine from Ebola from the Sudan species of the virus, and at an unprecedented speed for a randomized vaccine trial, in an emergency. This is the first trial to assess the clinical efficacy of a vaccine against Ebola Sudan virus disease. IAVI, the provider of the vaccine, conducted trials for safety and immunogenicity. It is also the first clinical trial of the vaccine during an outbreak.

This article originally appeared on WHO.

In a global first, Uganda’s Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners today launched a first-ever clinical efficacy trial for a vaccine from Ebola from the Sudan species of the virus, and at an unprecedented speed for a randomized vaccine trial, in an emergency. Th...

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