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US Faces Backlash Over Secret Health Deals with African Nations
(MENAFN) The United States has struck 28 international health agreements, primarily with African nations, but has kept the full terms confidential, sparking criticism, according to reports.
These agreements are part of a broader “America First” restructuring of US foreign health aid, led by the State Department after last year’s disbanding of the US Agency for International Development. Officials reported that the new framework covers $12.7 billion in US support while requiring partner nations to contribute $7.8 billion.
Documents related to agreements with Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Ethiopia were briefly made public online in March but were reportedly removed shortly afterward. Washington later claimed the postings were accidental and said the papers would be shared again once all negotiations are complete.
The lack of transparency surrounding these arrangements has raised alarms among partner countries and advocacy groups, who worry that US health aid could be leveraged to extract concessions on unrelated policy matters.
In Zambia, a health deal initially anticipated in December faced delays amid reports of “political pressure,” with claims that the US sought to use the aid package to influence separate negotiations over key minerals in an effort to counter China’s dominance.
Last month, reports indicated that the administration had considered using essential HIV/AIDS treatment for Zambia’s 1.3 million patients as leverage to push the country into signing the minerals agreement.
Nick Checker, a senior State Department official focused on Africa, dismissed these claims, asserting that Washington is “not seeking anything at Zambia's expense or against Zambia's laws or interests.”
These agreements are part of a broader “America First” restructuring of US foreign health aid, led by the State Department after last year’s disbanding of the US Agency for International Development. Officials reported that the new framework covers $12.7 billion in US support while requiring partner nations to contribute $7.8 billion.
Documents related to agreements with Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Ethiopia were briefly made public online in March but were reportedly removed shortly afterward. Washington later claimed the postings were accidental and said the papers would be shared again once all negotiations are complete.
The lack of transparency surrounding these arrangements has raised alarms among partner countries and advocacy groups, who worry that US health aid could be leveraged to extract concessions on unrelated policy matters.
In Zambia, a health deal initially anticipated in December faced delays amid reports of “political pressure,” with claims that the US sought to use the aid package to influence separate negotiations over key minerals in an effort to counter China’s dominance.
Last month, reports indicated that the administration had considered using essential HIV/AIDS treatment for Zambia’s 1.3 million patients as leverage to push the country into signing the minerals agreement.
Nick Checker, a senior State Department official focused on Africa, dismissed these claims, asserting that Washington is “not seeking anything at Zambia's expense or against Zambia's laws or interests.”
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