The world over, the spectre of biosafety and biosecurity (BSBS) is real and alarming. Yet for Africa, data from organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) Joint External Evaluation (JEE) consistently highlight the still sub-optimal BSBS capacities of African Union (AU) Member States.
In 2023 alone, over 200 pathogen-related public health events were reported across the continent.
These incidents, driven by increased cross-border movement of people and animals, advances in science and technology, and growing interest from bioterrorism groups, have underscored the urgent need to strengthen BSBS capacities and capabilities across Africa.
Thankfully, since the inception of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)-led Regional BSBS Initiative in 2019, and the subsequent rollout of the Regional BSBS Five-Year Strategy (2021–2025), significant progress has been made.
A major milestone was the establishment and operationalisation in 2021 of five multi-sectoral Regional BSBS Technical Working Groups for Central, Eastern, Northern, Southern, and West Africa. These bodies provide strategic oversight for the implementation of the BSBS Initiative at regional levels.
The year 2022 marked a pivotal moment in Africa’s pursuit of biosafety and biosecurity resilience. It was during this period that Africa CDC's vision began to crystallise into tangible results, laying the groundwork for a more secure, better-prepared continent.
One of the standout achievements was the launch of the Regional Training and Certification Programme for BSBS professionals.
For the first time, Africa had a regionally endorsed and accessible certification system, offering professionals a clear path to build and validate their expertise.
By mid-2025, over 350 African experts had been certified, creating a growing community of skilled personnel ready to lead the charge in biosafety and biosecurity.
In the same spirit of progress, three Centres of Excellence for BSBS were operationalised, each rooted in regional needs and strengths.
In Southern Africa, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in South Africa began hosting specialised training.
Eastern Africa’s hub emerged at the National Public Health Laboratory in Tanzania, while in West Africa, the Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal took the lead. These centres focused on critical topics such as biorisk management, biological waste handling, the operation of high-containment labs, and the maintenance of biosafety cabinets—addressing gaps that once left countries vulnerable.
The momentum didn’t stop there. That same year, a Regional BSBS Legislative Framework was adopted by the African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Health, Population, and Drug Control.
It was later recognised by the AU’s legal advisory bodies and endorsed by Heads of State during the July 2022 Summit, paving the way for countries to domesticate the framework into national law. This was more than a policy win; it was a commitment to institutionalising biosafety across the continent.
Adding to this progress, Africa CDC introduced a Regulatory and Certification Framework for institutions handling high-risk pathogens. For the first time, the continent had clear, continentally recognised standards for laboratories working with high-consequence agents and toxins, covering everything from lab design to operational procedures for safe biocontainment.
Yet despite these strides, critical gaps remain. Most AU Member States still lack comprehensive legal tools to regulate biosafety, biosecurity, dual-use research, and emergency response.
The regulatory framework has highlighted serious infrastructural limitations—revealing that only four high-containment labs across Africa are currently certified. While the 350+ certified professionals mark a significant milestone, the number falls short of what's needed for a rapid, deployable surge response force.
And although the legislative framework is in place, efforts to domesticate it have faced challenges, especially due to weak coordination between key ministries, despite broad endorsement of the One Health approach. Perhaps most pressing of all is the question of sustainability, with many programs still heavily reliant on external donor funding.
Still, there is much to celebrate. These developments reflect meaningful progress in Africa’s readiness to manage biological threats. To take stock and plan forward, Africa CDC launched a continent-wide End-Term Evaluation in June 2025, a highly consultative effort to assess the progress of the five-year strategy and lay the foundation for the next phase from 2025 to 2030.
These achievements are the result of strong leadership, AU Member State commitment, and the collaborative efforts of regional and global partners.
The Government of Canada and the United Kingdom, through the G7-led Global Partnership, have been instrumental in the SIMBA Initiative.
The World Bank and other international organisations continue to provide critical support. And at the heart of it all, the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) remains a steadfast technical and strategic partner, championing safer labs, stronger systems, and a healthier, more secure Africa.
Because this is more than policy. It’s about people. It’s about preparedness. And it’s about building “The Africa We Want”.
Dr. Maruta is the Programs Director at ASLM
