Jean Kaseya

Jean Kaseya is a Congolese medical doctor and public health executive who has served as Director-General of the African Union's Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention since April 2023. His public role centers on continental health security and the coordination of responses to health emergencies in Africa.

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About Jean Kaseya

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

Democratic Republic of the Congo · Medical doctor, Public health executive

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Known for: Public health; African health security; Epidemiology
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Medical doctor
Public health executive

At a glance

Kaseya became the first Director-General of Africa CDC when he assumed office on April 20, 2023.
Africa CDC describes him as a medical doctor with advanced degrees in epidemiology and community health and more than 25 years of public-health experience.
His earlier work included national public-health roles in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and positions with international health organizations.
During his directorship, Africa CDC issued its first declaration of a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security in response to mpox in August 2024.

Leadership of Africa CDC

The African Union Assembly appointed Kaseya Director-General of Africa CDC for a four-year mandate on February 19, 2023, and he assumed office on April 20 as the institution's first Director-General. World Health Organization material continued to identify and credit him in that leadership role in 2026.

Medical background and earlier career

Africa CDC describes Kaseya as a medical doctor with advanced degrees in epidemiology and community health and more than 25 years of public-health experience. The BMJ reported that he began his career at Kinshasa General Hospital and became chief of the Kahemba health zone in Bandundu province in 1998. His subsequent work included national health roles in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and work with UNICEF, Gavi, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and the World Health Organization.

Continental health security

Kaseya's tenure has included Africa CDC's August 2024 declaration of mpox as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security, the agency's first declaration of that kind. In April 2026, Africa CDC announced that the African Union had recognized him for what the agency characterized as exceptional achievement in advancing Africa's health security.

Timeline

2023-02-19 The African Union Assembly appointed Kaseya Director-General of Africa CDC for a four-year mandate.
2023-04-20 Kaseya assumed office as Africa CDC's first Director-General.
2024-08-13 During Kaseya's directorship, Africa CDC declared mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security, its first declaration of that kind.
2026-04-13 Africa CDC announced that the African Union had recognized Kaseya for what the agency described as exceptional achievement in advancing Africa's health security.

Additional verified details

Current context

Jean Kaseya remained Director-General of Africa CDC as of August 20, 2026. WHO's August 2026 remarks credited Kaseya's Africa CDC leadership; WHO had explicitly identified him as Africa CDC Director-General in April 2026.

Biographical facts

Africa CDC describes Kaseya as a medical doctor with advanced degrees in epidemiology and community health and more than 25 years of public-health experience.
The BMJ reported that Kaseya began his career at Kinshasa General Hospital and became chief of the Kahemba health zone in Bandundu province in 1998.
Before becoming Africa CDC Director-General, Africa CDC states that Kaseya served in national public-health roles in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and worked with UNICEF, Gavi, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and the World Health Organization.

Connections

Affiliations

Affiliations associated with Jean Kaseya.

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Director-General 2023-04-20–present
Presidency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Senior adviser to President Laurent-Désiré Kabila at ministerial level
National Expanded Programme on Immunization, Democratic Republic of the Congo Head of routine immunization
UNICEF
Gavi
Clinton Health Access Initiative
World Health Organization