Professor Mohamed Yakub Janabi has been nominated as the next Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region, pending approval from the WHO Executive Board in May 2025.

His nomination follows the sudden death of the previous Regional Director-elect and was proposed by Tanzania, beating other candidates from Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Togo.

Janabi pledged to focus on strengthening health resilience, unity, and innovation in Africa, a region facing diverse health challenges including infectious diseases and climate-related risks.

WHO leadership, including Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Acting Regional Director Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, expressed strong support and confidence in Janabi’s ability to lead.