The African Union Special Envoy for the African Medicines Agency (AMA), Honourable Michel Sidibé, embarked on high-level advocacy activities on the ratification of the Treaty that will establish the AMA following his appointment on 26 March 2021.
The Special Envoy has led high-level advocacy missions together with the Commission to member states that have signed but yet to ratify the AMA Treaty, in order to fast track the coming into Force of the Treaty. With the support of the Commission, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) and the World Health Organization (WHO) the Envoy has led engagements with Heads of States and Governments and the Ministers in charge of Foreign Affairs to several member states from the month of April to July 2021. The member states include Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia and Zimbabwe.
These engagements accelerated the rate of ratification and as a result a number of the member states fast-tracked the ratification of the Treaty with the rest pledging their commitment to the same goal. The Republics of Algeria, Benin, Guinea, Niger and Sierra Leone deposited the instrument of ratification of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) while Egypt signed the Treaty following the visit by the Envoy. Additionally, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Zimbabwe have the ratification process in progress following approval by the Cabinet.
in the Health, Nutrition and Population – In Focus Newsletter, June – August 2021 Edition