The first African Summit on Health Systems and Health Sovereignty opened on Friday, November 28, 2025 in Dakhla, under the auspices of the Mohammed VI Foundation for Science and Health , in partnership with the African Academy of Health Sciences (AAHS).

This major event brings together over 200 experts, researchers, policymakers and health actors from across the continent for two days to develop the necessary transformations for African health systems.

Key Themes and Objectives

Placed under the theme of health sovereignty in Africa , the meeting aims to examine the structural challenges of the sector and to define strategies for a sustainable strengthening of public health policies.

1. Discussion topics: According to Professor Youns Bjijou, Deputy Chairman of the Mohammed VI Foundation, the work focuses on:
2. The epidemiology of priority diseases.
3. Health data.
4. Universal health coverage (UHC).
5. The governance of health systems.
6. Roadmap 2030: The summit will culminate with the Dakhla Declaration . This document is intended to affirm a new vision for the South-South strategic partnership in global health and to engage the continental ecosystem in making African health sovereignty a continental challenge by 2030.

Morocco's Commitment

Azéddine El Midaoui, Morocco's Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, reaffirmed the Kingdom's commitment to the development of the continent.

1. He stressed that Africa is the continent of the future and that any progress made there also benefits Morocco.
2. The minister reiterated Morocco's commitment to strengthening academic cooperation, particularly by increasing the number of African students enrolled in its universities, engineering schools and medical faculties.

Summit proceedings

The program includes several thematic panels, such as:

1. "Epidemiology and health priorities in Africa".
2. "Integrated health information system and global health".
3. "Organizational models and governance of health systems".
4. "Universal health financing and coverage in Africa".

Parallel sessions on innovation, partnership and the role of health actors will also be held on the Mohammed VI Campus of Science and Health in Casablanca and Rabat.

The opening session benefited from strong participation, including ambassadors, consuls general of African countries, secretaries general of ministries, presidents of universities and academics.