The World Health Organisation (WHO) has nominated Mohamed Janabi of Tanzania as the next Regional Director for the African Region, following a meeting of the WHO Regional Committee held on Sunday.
Janabi’s nomination follows the unexpected death of Regional Director-elect Faustine Ndugulile in November 2024, which led WHO Member States in Africa to convene a special election to fill the leadership void.
His nomination will be submitted for formal appointment by the WHO Executive Board during its 157th session, scheduled to take place from May 28 to 29, 2025, in Geneva. Upon confirmation, Dr. Janabi will serve a five-year term, with the possibility of reappointment.
Janabi emerged as the leading candidate from a competitive field that included N’da Yao of Côte d’Ivoire, Mohammed Dramé of Guinea, and Moustafa Mijiyawa of Togo. A seasoned cardiologist, he previously served as the executive director of Tanzania’s largest hospital and has been a senior health advisor to both the late President John Magufuli and current President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Born in 1962, Dr. Janabi brings over 30 years of experience in both clinical practice and health policy. In his acceptance speech, he pledged to prioritize the strengthening of health systems across the region and to address critical challenges, including emerging infectious diseases, the rising burden of noncommunicable diseases, and the health impacts of climate change.
His nomination comes at a crucial time for the WHO African Region, which continues to face fragile healthcare infrastructure, limited domestic investment, and the lingering effects of multiple public health crises including COVID-19, Ebola, and cholera outbreaks.
According to WHO data, Africa bears more than 25% of the global disease burden, despite accounting for just 3% of the world’s health workforce a stark disparity Dr. Janabi is expected to confront during his tenure.
