African Medicines Agency establishes technical expert committees

The African Medicines Agency (AMA), a specialized agency of the African Union, has inaugurated seven technical expert committees in Kigali, Rwanda. This move aims to structure the agency's scientific expertise to facilitate the movement of medicines across the continent.

Operating since October 2025, the AMA seeks to harmonize regulatory standards to ensure that pharmaceuticals manufactured in countries such as Rwanda, Senegal, or South Africa can more easily reach patients in other African nations. The agency's mission is not to replace national regulatory authorities, which retain their sovereign responsibilities, but to strengthen their capacities, coordinate scientific evaluations, and foster compatible rules.

As of October 2026, 33 of the 55 African Union member states have ratified the agency's founding treaty. The AMA's work is intended to complement existing regulatory cooperation efforts, such as the African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization Initiative, and to coordinate with regional economic communities to bridge markets and institutions.