Germany and East Africa step up their joint Ebola preparedness
German support has trained 500 laboratory experts and put 10 mobile labs into service across the EAC. Eighty frontline experts are trained for Ebola, and 80 more are in or about to start training.
Berlin — The East African Community and Germany have agreed to strengthen their partnership on pandemic preparedness, as the region responds to the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, the EAC said.
The EAC's secretary general, Ambassador Stephen Mbundi, met Germany's development minister, Reem Alabali-Radovan, in Berlin, along with officials from Germany's development ministry, GIZ, Bayer and the Equity Group Foundation.
What German support has delivered so far
- 500 laboratory experts trained.
- 10 mobile laboratories bought and deployed across EAC member states for disease surveillance.
- 80 frontline experts trained to manage Ebola and other highly infectious diseases.
- 30 more clinical workers in training in Kinshasa, and 50 more due to start training in eastern Congo in November.
During the visit, the EAC took part in an exercise on the clinical care of Ebola patients, supported by Berlin's Charité university hospital and GIZ.
What comes next
- Germany committed €3–5 million to develop and co-finance a regional climate project.
- The two sides discussed strengthening medicine manufacturing in the region and pooled buying of medicines and vaccines.
Mr Mbundi said the EAC has mobilised resources for the Ebola response in eastern Congo and for preparedness in all member states, and stressed that outbreaks carry risks across borders. Ms Alabali-Radovan emphasised rapid response, solidarity and sustained investment in global health security.
Source: East African Community, 14 October 2026.
