KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo — Dr. Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), is urging African leaders to take greater ownership of the continent’s public health challenges, emphasizing the need for financial and political commitment from African governments themselves. His remarks come amid the ongoing Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has so far caused over 3,300 deaths.

In a July meeting convened at the presidential residence in Kinshasa, Dr. Kaseya brought together the presidents of the DRC and South Africa to discuss the Ebola response. He stressed that the effort should be “led in Africa by Africans, for Africans,” rather than relying predominantly on Western donors. This stance reflects his broader campaign to shift Africa away from dependence on external aid toward increased self-reliance in public health — a move driven in part by shrinking budgets from traditional donor countries.

Established in 2017 following the severe 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the Africa CDC aims to build continent-wide capacity to address infectious diseases. Dr. Kaseya, who took office as its second director general in 2023, has overseen a period of expansion marked by increased funding and a heightened political profile. The agency recently received an “Outstanding” rating in an official African Union evaluation, and the World Bank upgraded its assessment of the Africa CDC from “moderately unsatisfactory” to “satisfactory” over the past two years.

However, Dr. Kaseya’s leadership has not been without controversy. Some donors have expressed concerns about his management style and alleged excessive spending on travel and meetings. An investigative report raised questions about accountability, but Dr. Kaseya responded by initiating internal reviews that found no substantiated wrongdoing. Personnel conflicts also arose earlier this year when he recalled three regional directors under dispute with host countries; an African Union tribunal initially ordered their reinstatement before a senior AU official ultimately supported Dr. Kaseya’s decision.

Dr. Kaseya, a Congolese physician known for his rigorous work ethic and direct approach, acknowledges his “strong personality” and intolerance for perceived “misbehavior” among staff. Despite the demanding schedule, including regular late-night calls with presidents and early mornings for reflection, he maintains close communication with roughly 40 African heads of state via direct channels like WhatsApp.

While his push for African-led health governance has garnered support from some global health leaders, others caution that the Africa CDC remains heavily reliant on external funding, with just 21% of its budget currently sourced from African governments. Dr. Boghuma Titanji, a Cameroonian infectious diseases specialist, noted that continued dependence on outside donors limits full sovereignty over priorities and interventions.

Addressing this funding gap is a central focus for Dr. Kaseya, who has pressed countries like Congo and South Africa to contribute significantly to outbreak responses. He highlighted $50 million from Congo and $13.5 million from South Africa toward the ongoing Ebola effort, with $90 million of a pledged $120 million from African nations already disbursed. He frames such financial commitments as critical to Africa’s broader goal of self-determination in health policy and security.

Beyond immediate crisis management, Dr. Kaseya envisions the Africa CDC playing a role in addressing underlying issues in eastern Congo, such as displaced populations living in camps. He raised the agency’s Ebola response budget from $518 million to $1.4 billion to include initiatives aimed at ending cholera outbreaks and revitalizing local economies. While acknowledging managing displaced populations falls outside the Africa CDC’s formal mandate, he argues the agency can influence humanitarian funding and policy.

As Africa faces ongoing public health challenges, Dr. Kaseya’s leadership reflects both the ambition and complexities involved in transforming the continent’s approach to disease control and prevention. He remains focused on demonstrating African capacity and resilience in public health, seeking to counter longstanding perceptions and build a future where African countries lead their own health agendas.