Michel Sidibé

Shaping Africa’s Health Sovereignty | From Ideas to Impact I AMA Special Envoy | Former UNAIDS Executive Director & Mali Health Minister

[Michel Sidibé @MichelSidibe]

Ownership begins where dependency ends.

Yesterday’s discussion with the African-led HIV Control Working Group I confirmed that the future of HIV in Africa will not be determined by donor budgets, but by African leadership, domestic investment and country ownership.

The next chapter must be written by Africa—for Africa, with partners standing alongside us, not in front of us.

#EndAIDS #AfricanLeadership #HealthSovereignty #HCWG #GlobalHealth

[Michel Sidibé @MichelSidibe]

I was honoured, in my capacity as Senior Advisor to President John Dramani Mahama of #Ghana on the #AccraReset initiative, to join colleagues in #Dakar for the opening of the High-Level Panel.

President Mahama challenged us to be bold, specific and people-centred. As the old global health order gives way, Africa must seize this opportunity to write the rules of a new era of health sovereignty.

#AccraReset #HealthSovereignty #GlobalHealth #AfricanLeadership @JDMahama

https://t.co/84L1UpbFCj

[Michel Sidibé @MichelSidibe]

As a father, few things bring me greater joy than seeing the next generation lead with purpose. Congratulations, Myriam, on your outstanding contribution at #LCAW2026. Your passion, clarity, and commitment to advancing resilient landscapes and a sustainable future for Africa make me immensely proud. Keep inspiring, keep leading, and keep believing that change is possible. ❤️🌍

[Michel Sidibé @MichelSidibe]

Congratulations, Zimbabwe!

*Zimbabwe Becomes First in Africa, Fourth Globally to Attain #WHO Maturity Level 4*

Maturity Level 4 is more than a milestone—it’s a victory for Africa’s health sovereignty. Strong regulators save lives, build trust, enable local manufacturing, and power the African Medicines Agency. May this inspire the continent.

#AMA #HealthSovereignty #RegulatoryExcellence #TheAfricaWeWant @WHO @_AfricanUnion @AfricanAmata @DrTedros @NEPAD_Agency @AU_HHS

[Helen Clark @HelenClarkNZ]

“As member of @globalcdp am fully aligned w/ fellow commissioners/countless experts in saying only decriminalisation & regulated, strictly controlled legal markets for drugs stand any chance of tackling growing rate of drug-related deaths”. @richardbranson https://t.co/va2fF4QfWN

[Michel Sidibé @MichelSidibe]

If we are serious about protecting #children, drug policy must move beyond punishment and stigma. Most young people start using drugs due to peer pressure, trauma, or mental health struggles—not criminal intent. #Prevention means education, trust, safe support, and listening to children themselves. A child-centered, rights-based approach is no longer optional—it is essential.
#DrugPolicy #PublicHealth #HumanRights #Africa @HelenClarkNZ @Kazatchkine
@globalcdp

[Michel Sidibé @MichelSidibe]

A major milestone for social justice in the digital age.
The new international labour standard adopted by ILO Member States sends a clear message: the future of work cannot be built on insecurity and exclusion.

Platform workers deserve dignity, fair conditions, social protection, and a voice. As Africa’s digital economy grows, this framework offers an important opportunity to shape inclusive and people-centered labour markets.

Congratulations to all who made this possible.
#ILO #DecentWork #FutureOfWork #DigitalEconomy @GilbertFHoungbo @ilo @SdeCourcelles

[Michel Sidibé @MichelSidibe]

Drug policy reform cannot remain trapped in outdated paradigms. We may not yet have all the regulatory answers, but we can define the principles: evidence over ideology, public health over punishment, and human rights over stigma. Building broader alliances—including new constituencies—may be our greatest opportunity for transformative change.
#DrugPolicy #PublicHealth #HumanRights #Africa @HelenClarkNZ @Kazatchkine
@globalcdp

[Michel Sidibé @MichelSidibe]

Important and timely discussions in Geneva with colleagues from the Global Commission on Drug Policy. As a Commissioner, I continue to believe that drug policy must move beyond ideology toward evidence, public health, prevention, human dignity, and community resilience.

We cannot incarcerate our way out of complex social and health challenges. The future requires smarter, people-centered approaches that reduce harm, address trafficking and organized crime, while protecting young people and strengthening public health systems — particularly in Africa.
#DrugPolicy #PublicHealth #HumanRights #Africa @HelenClarkNZ @Kazatchkine
@globalcdp

[Helen Clark @HelenClarkNZ]

Good sessions in #Geneva this week with members of Global Commission on Drug Policy in person & online. @globalcdp advocates for evidence-based, health, #humanrights & people-centered approaches to drug policy. Prohibitionist approaches drive great harm & overincarceration.

[Michel Sidibé @MichelSidibe]

For too long, Africa has responded to Ebola with urgency — but without durable capacity.

The future must be different:
communities empowered, vaccines produced closer to populations, science trusted, and institutions strengthened.

The goal is not only to survive outbreaks — but to make them rarer, smaller, and less deadly.

#VaccinesForAfrica #CommunityHealth #Prevention

[Michel Sidibé @MichelSidibe]

Africa cannot continue importing security during crises.

No continent of 1.4 billion people should depend almost entirely on external vaccine supply when outbreaks strike.

Local production of Ebola vaccines is not only an industrial agenda — it is a matter of health sovereignty, resilience, and survival.

The next outbreak should find Africa better prepared, better protected, and better equipped to respond.

#LocalProduction #Vaccines #HealthSovereignty #Ebola

[Michel Sidibé @MichelSidibe]

Ebola is back in RDC. Behind every case is a family, a health worker, a community living in fear.

We cannot normalize outbreaks. Compassion without action costs lives.

The world stood with Ebola before — we must stand with the DRC again. #Ebola #RDC

@fatshi13 @Presidence_RDC @Dr_JeanKaseya @rogerkamba @DrTedros

[Michel Sidibé @MichelSidibe]

Ebola est de retour en #RDC. Derrière chaque cas, il y a une famille, un agent de santé, une communauté qui vit dans la peur.

Nous ne pouvons pas normaliser les épidémies. La compassion sans action coûte des vies.

Le monde s’est mobilisé contre Ebola hier — il doit se tenir à nouveau aux côtés de la RDC aujourd’hui. #Ebola #RDC
@fatshi13 @Presidence_RDC @Dr_JeanKaseya @rogerkamba @DrTedros

[Michel Sidibé @MichelSidibe]

Historic moment for Africa. #Nigeria, home to more than 220 million people, has ratified the Treaty establishing the African Medicines Agency.

This is more than a ratification — it is a powerful step toward African health sovereignty, stronger regulation, local pharmaceutical production, and access to safe, quality medicines made for Africans, by Africans.

#Nigeria has sent a clear message: the future of Africa’s health must be built in #Africa.

#AMA #AfricanUnion #HealthSovereignty @AU_HHS  @_AfricanUnion , @ymahmoudali  @NEPAD_Agency @DCP_Haddadi @muhammadpate

[Michel Sidibé @MichelSidibe]

#Africa has lost a giant. Festus Gontebanye Mogae was not only a remarkable statesman, but also a fearless champion for children born free of HIV and for the dignity of African lives.

I had the privilege to stand beside him during defining moments for our continent, including the early preparations leading to PEPFAR. His voice carried wisdom, courage, and moral clarity in service of both #Botswana and #Africa.

His legacy will live on in every child protected, every life saved, and every African who still believes in principled leadership.

Rest in peace, Mr President.

[Michel Sidibé @MichelSidibe]

The future of HIV response in Africa will be decided at home.

Join the African-led HIV Control Working Group webinar on:
Protecting Core Services with Domestic Investments

🗓️ April 22
⏰ 14:00 EAT

#HIV #HealthFinancing #Africa #DomesticResources

[Michel Sidibé @MichelSidibe]

1/
👉 Nous traversons plus qu’une crise globale.
Nous sommes à un tournant.

Le moment de refonder nos systèmes de santé — à partir du national.
#SantéMondiale

[Michel Sidibé @MichelSidibe]

2/
👉 Dans un monde marqué par des crises en cascade — énergie, alimentation, conflits —

chaque choc global devient une crise sanitaire nationale.

[Michel Sidibé @MichelSidibe]

3/
👉 Et pourtant, nos réponses restent fragmentées, externes, réactives.

Mais soyons clairs :
on ne peut pas externaliser la santé de nos populations.