African governments and development partners have taken a decisive step toward tackling one of the continent’s most damaging livestock diseases with the launch of a High-Level Continental Advisory Committee aimed at eradicating Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) by 2030. Spearheaded by the African Union Commission (AUC) through the Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) and the Pan-African PPR Secretariat, the initiative brings together senior political leaders, regional economic blocs, global animal health agencies, and development partners to provide strategic oversight and sustain high-level political commitment in the fight against the disease.
PPR, a viral disease that primarily affects sheep and goats, poses a silent but severe threat to Africa’s rural economies. Small ruminants are central to the livelihoods, nutrition, and income of millions of smallholder farmers across the continent, and outbreaks can decimate entire herds, pushing vulnerable communities deeper into poverty and food insecurity.
At the official launch in Nairobi on December 17, 2025, AU-IBAR Director Dr. Huyam Salih emphasized the importance of political leadership in achieving the 2030 target. “This Advisory Committee provides a vital platform for leadership, strategic oversight, and coordinated implementation of national and regional efforts to eradicate PPR across the continent,” she said. The committee will guide the Pan-African Programme for PPR Eradication, champion resource mobilisation, facilitate coordinated cross-border strategies, and monitor progress toward the global eradication goals. This aligns with Africa’s broader animal health priorities, including the African Animal Health Strategy, Agenda 2063, and the Global PPR Eradication Programme.
The initiative has received strong backing from the European Union, reinforcing support for efforts to strengthen Africa’s animal health systems. The advisory committee builds on the Pan-African Programme for the Eradication of PPR (PPR-PAPS), launched in Addis Ababa earlier in 2025 by AU-IBAR, FAO, WOAH, and the EU. Ministers of agriculture and livestock, AU commissioners, members of the Pan-African Parliament, and development partners gathered in a show of continental unity, highlighting that defeating PPR requires collaboration across borders.
African leaders drew lessons from the successful eradication of rinderpest, the only animal disease ever eradicated globally. Ethiopia’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Girma Amente, noted, “We eradicated rinderpest because Africa was united. Today, with the same unity and adequate resources, we can defeat PPR.” Leaders also stressed that controlling PPR is not only a veterinary challenge but a broader socio-economic priority, particularly for women, children, and youth, who often lead small ruminant production.
PPR causes approximately $1.45 billion in annual losses, directly affecting the livelihoods of more than 300 million Africans. The disease undermines trade, weakens biodiversity, and exacerbates food insecurity. Tackling it aligns with continental initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and supports integrated approaches to animal, human, and environmental health under the One Health framework.
With the launch of the advisory committee and sustained political momentum, Africa is positioning itself for a coordinated, continent-wide effort to make PPR a disease of the past by 2030, safeguarding livelihoods, boosting food security, and strengthening rural economies.
