The African Union (AU) Commission is advancing its efforts to operationalise the African Medicines Agency (AMA). The AU Commission deployed a team to Kigali, Rwanda, from 17th October 2024 to 31st January 2025 to oversee the setup of AMA’s Headquarters. This includes receiving donated vehicles from the Rwandan government and ensuring the facility is fully operational before the arrival of the Director General. These developments highlight the AU’s continued commitment to improving health governance and strengthening regulatory capacity across Africa through the establishment of AMA.
A call for applications for the position of AMA Director General was launched, with the recruitment process running from 1st September to 15th October 2024. This presents a key leadership opportunity to guide the agency in harmonising medical product regulations across the continent.
In parallel, at the 19th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRA), held from 14-18 October 2024 in New Delhi, India, the AU Commission actively participated and presented AMA’s progress and its role in shaping regulatory frameworks in Africa. The conference facilitated important discussions on global regulatory priorities and strengthened engagement with key stakeholders across industries and research institutions.