The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa resolved to reopen nominations for a regional director at a special session last week. 

This follows the unexpected passing of director-elect Dr Faustine Ndugulile in November 2024. He was due to assume the post in February once his election had been confirmed by the WHO Executive Board.

According to the resolution passed by the regional committee, member states will receive a letter from the WHO Director-General by tomorrow (21 January) inviting them to nominate candidates by 28 February.

A virtual live candidates’ forum is planned for 2 April. Thereafter, the region has requested the Director General to convene an in-person special session of the Regional Committee in Geneva on 18 May for member states to elect the next Regional Director who will then be nominated to the Executive Board.

Fast-tracked

The fast-tracked process requires the suspension of Rule 52 of the region’s election procedures, which mandates a process of no less than six months for nominations.

Derek Walton, WHO legal counsel in Geneva, confirmed that the regional committee had determined the next steps, with a final selection in May during another special session of the Regional Committee for Africa. 

“This session will be held just before the World Health Assembly, and at that point, the committee will make a fresh nomination for the position of Regional Director,” Walton told Health Policy Watch last week.

“If all goes to plan, we should have a new Regional Director for Africa in place by 1 June,” Walton confirmed.

However, the regional director-elect will still need to be formally appointed by the WHO Executive Board when it meets in February 2026, according to the region’s resolution.

The role of WHO Regional Director for Africa is crucial in guiding the organization’s public health efforts across the continent, including responses to disease outbreaks, strengthening health systems, and implementing WHO policies tailored to African health challenges.

Ndugulile secured 25 of the 46 votes at the WHO Africa regional conference in the Republic of Congo, defeating Dr Ibrahima Socé Fall (proposed by Senegal), Dr Richard Mihigo (proposed by Rwanda) and Dr Boureima Hama Sambo (proposed by Niger). 

A former deputy health minister and ICT minister in Tanzania, Ndugulile represented the Kigamboni constituency in Dar Es Salaam as a Member of Parliament since 2010 and chaired the country’s parliamentary health committee.

The three candidates could be renominated by their respective countries. Socé Fall is currently Director of the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases at WHO headquarters in Geneva.

Mihigo is the vaccine alliance, Gavi’s Senior Director of Programmatic and Strategic Engagement with the African Union and Africa CDC, but worked for WHO Africa until March 2022.

Sambo serves as the WHO’s Head of Mission and Representative to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Whoever is ultimately selected will have big shoes to fill, succeeding Matshidiso Moeti, who is retiring after making a name for herself during the COVID pandemic. She was also the first female Regional Director for WHO AFRO, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and leadership.

Africa faces numerous public health challenges, including infectious disease outbreaks, vaccine distribution disparities, and the worsening effects of climate change on health.