ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- African leaders issued an urgent call to action on Saturday as progress toward eliminating malaria on the continent has "stalled," with Africa accounting for 96 percent of global cases.

The appeal was made Saturday during a joint media briefing by the African Union (AU) and the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) on the margins of the ongoing 39th AU Summit at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital.

According to the AU, the continent accounts for 96 percent of global malaria cases and 97 percent of malaria-related deaths. Africa's progress against the disease has stagnated since 2015.

"For decades we have been fighting the scourge of malaria, and we have saved millions of lives," Duma Boko, president of Botswana and chair of the ALMA, told the briefing. "However, progress remains stalled and the continent cannot afford to wait to act."

Boko stated that in 2024, Africa recorded about 270 million cases and nearly 600,000 deaths, warning that a "perfect storm" of threats now jeopardizes health systems. He highlighted that disruptions to bilateral funding and unfulfilled pledges have created sudden gaps, forcing countries to reduce grants.

"If we allow a 30 percent reduction in malaria funding to persist, our models predict an additional 397,000 deaths by 2030," Boko said. "We also stand to lose 37 billion U.S. dollars in GDP, a blow to our economic transformation that we simply cannot afford."

He emphasized that Africa must lead the fight by developing sustainable financing plans. "We need to treat malaria not just as a routine health issue, but as a central pillar of our health sovereignty," he added.

Founded in 2009, the ALMA is a groundbreaking coalition of African heads of state and government working across borders, with a shared goal of achieving a malaria-free Africa by 2030 through coordinated action and accountability.

Describing Africa's fight against malaria as "a test of leadership and determination," AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development Amma Twum-Amoah noted that only five AU countries remain on track to meet the elimination milestones under the current framework.

"These numbers are more than statistics," the commissioner said. "They are a moral alarm. They are a development warning. They are a test of our leadership."

She highlighted that progress is constrained by structural risks, tightening global financing, and climate change, and investment in malaria elimination is an investment in economic strength. She called on member states to act decisively to mobilize domestic resources amid unpredictable partner support. ■