Growing public debt is choking sub-Saharan African countries, leaving them with little fiscal room to finance health and critical HIV services. A new report by UNAIDS, Domestic revenues, debt relief and development aid: Transformative pathways for ending AIDS by 2030 Eastern and Southern Africa | Western and Central Africa , shows that the debt crisis is putting in jeopardy progress made towards ending AIDS.

Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for the largest number of people living with HIV, with more than 25.9 million people of the 39.9 million living with HIV globally. The region’s success in having reduced new HIV infections by 56% since 2010 will not be sustained if fiscal space is constrained. 

The report, released ahead of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, shows that the combination of growing public debt payments and spending cuts set out in International Monetary Fund agreements in the next three to five years will, if unaddressed, leave countries dangerously under resourced to fund their HIV responses.

“When countries cannot effectively look after the health care needs of their people because of debt payments, global health security is put at risk,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima. “Public debt needs to be urgently reduced and domestic resource mobilization strengthened to enable the fiscal space to fully fund the global HIV response and end AIDS.”

Debt servicing now exceeds 50% of government revenues in Angola, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia.  Even after debt relief measures, Zambia will still be paying two-thirds of its budget on debt servicing between 2024 and 2026.

There has been a noted decline in HIV response spending since 2017 in Western and Central Africa, from 0.3% of GDP in 2017 to just 0.12% in 2022.

Western and Central Africa will need to mobilize US$ 4.18 billion to fully fund the HIV response in 2024. This will climb to US$ 7.9 billion by 2030 unless efforts are scaled up today to stop new HIV infections.

While US$ 20.8 billion was available for the HIV response in 2022 in low and middle-income countries through both domestic and international sources, this funding was not enough to sufficiently finance the HIV response. Western and Central Africa for example had a funding shortfall of 32% in 2022.

In 2024 alone, Eastern and Southern Africa will need to mobilize almost US$ 12 billion to fully fund the HIV response. This amount will climb to around US$ 17 billion by 2030 unless new HIV infections are reduced.

To enable increased domestic resource mobilization for countries to respond effectively to their pandemics, sub-Saharan African countries will need to strengthen their tax systems, including closing tax exemptions which currently cost countries an average of 2.6% of GDP in lost revenue across the region.  Donors need also to scale up financial assistance for health and the HIV response between now and 2030, while creditors should offer debt relief to heavily indebted countries to ease the burden.

“World leaders cannot let a resource crunch derail global progress to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030,” said Ms Byanyima.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

For months, diverse communities in Tonj East have been engaging in a vicious cycle of cattle raiding and revenge attacks, costing many lives, the destruction of property, and theft of livestock.

Despite intensive efforts by peace partners, the violence has persisted along with movement obstructions, which are exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation in the region.

In another attempt to break through the conflict, the Warrap State authorities and United Nations Mission in South Sudan brought the Luacjang and Akook communities together at a dedicated dialogue session, where they committed to reconcile, end the fighting, and live together peacefully.

The discussion was open and robust.

“Roadblocks have hindered humanitarian assistance from reaching those who need it the most,” stated Aluong Ajang Chol, a representative of the Luanyjang community.

A paramount chief representing the Akook community, Chol Malok Deng, said the proliferation of illegal firearms is fueling the violence and preventing the implementation of rule of law.

“Disarmament of the youth is the best option, it will bring peace,” he said.

Participants in the peace dialogue signed a communique to end the violence and stressed the need for the government to provide early warning of potential conflict, voluntary disarmament, and special protection for women and children.

Women’s representative, Akur Bol Duop, said there was an urgent need to improve safety.

“As women, we are the ones left mourning the dead – our sons, husbands, brothers,” she said. “Currently, we are unable to farm our lands because we are afraid of being subjected to sexual assault or worse, being killed. We need protection, not just for ourselves but for the sake of our children.”

Warrap Governor, Kuol Muor Muor, emphasized the importance of opening roads to enable the free and safe movement of people and humanitarian aid, and outlined key steps for reconciliation, including the apprehension of those who commit crimes, and the establishment of traditional courts led by local chiefs.

UNMISS representatives said it was hoped that the dialogue would pave the way towards stability and unity in the region. They urged the communities to embrace peace to enable development.

“The violence is causing immense harm and driving development away from the region. Please support each other and support the Government, so that there can be a stop to this killing and peace can be secured,” urged UNMISS representative, Adewuyi Adewumi.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Even as South Sudan extends its ongoing transitional period by 24 months to February 2027, violence against women and children continues.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), therefore, recently partnered with Eastern Equatoria state’s Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare to empower some 50 students at the Torit Health Science Institute to stand up for the rights of women and children.

“It’s vital for us to know what to do when we come across survivors in our community, especially when it comes to reporting crimes against women, girls or boys to the appropriate authorities,” said Taban Elia Alias, Guild President at the Institute.

Topics covered during the interactive session were diverse. Students learned about the six grave violations of child rights during conflict. These consist of the recruitment and use of children, killing and maiming, sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, abductions, and the denial of humanitarian access to children in need.

Importantly, the young participants could gain more understanding about the dangers of sexual exploitation and abuse as well as different forms of violence against women and girls.

“I think a crucial takeaway for us, among other things, is that any interaction of a sexual nature must never be transactional; especially when it comes to humanitarian aid,” added Mr. Alias. “It was also edifying to gain a clear understanding of the UNMISS mandate, especially what Blue Helmets do to protect civilians,” he added.

What will participating students use these sessions for? The answer is heartening—this will form part of their preparations for a rule of law club at the Institute!

Mikelina Emilio, a Gender Affairs Officer with the UN Peacekeeping mission was happy with the outcomes of this intervention and the engagement by students.

“We are incredibly pleased to see young people be so involved in helping build a better, safer future for their entire community and I encourage all of you to trickle down what you have gained from this interaction to your peers,” she stated.  

For their part, the state ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare has established a center at Torit State Hospital offering protection services to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, including legal and health services as well as psychosocial support.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Scores of people were reportedly killed in the capital, Bamako, on Tuesday when Islamic militants attacked several locations, including a military police academy, according to international media reports.

The violence forced the authorities to temporarily close the international airport.

The militant group JNIM, which is linked to Al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility.

Call for justice

The Secretary-General strongly condemned the terrorist attack.

He called on the Malian transitional Government “to ensure that those responsible for this despicable attack are held to account.”

Mr. Guterres also extended his sincere condolences to the families of the victims as well as to the transitional Government and the people of Mali. 

He wished a speedy recovery to those injured, including one UN guard unit member.

More than 20 UN agencies are in Mali, supporting the authorities in achieving development goals.

The UN maintained a decade-long peacekeeping mission in the country, known as MINUSMA, which ceased operations in December 2023. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.