US signs health agreements with African nations

The U.S. has committed nearly $1.4 billion through four new health agreements with Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Botswana, and Ethiopia, aiming to combat priority disease threats while promoting long-term self-reliance. Recipient countries will contribute over $900 million alongside U.S. funding.

Reuters

December 24, 2025

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed attend the signing ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening bilateral cooperation at the National Palace, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, December 16, 2025. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri

Tiksa Negeri/Reuters

The U.S. signed four new global health memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Botswana, and Ethiopia, which total nearly $2.3 billion in funding, the State Department said on Tuesday.

"Each MOU includes clear benchmarks, strict timelines, and consequences for nonperformance – ensuring U.S. assistance delivers results against priority disease threats and reduces long-term dependence on U.S. assistance," the State Department said in a statement.

"Across the four MOUs, which total nearly $2.3 billion, the United States has committed almost $1.4 billion, with recipient countries co-investing more than $900 million of their own resources."

Kanishka Singh/Reuters

"Across the four MOUs, which total nearly $2.3 billion, the United States has committed almost $1.4 billion, with recipient countries co-investing more than $900 million of their own resources."

Kanishka Singh/Reuters