Africa urges more domestic funding to sustain gains against goat plague

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Officials attend a technical press conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on efforts to eradicate Peste des Petits Ruminants, a contagious livestock disease that affects sheep and goats across Africa. [Courtesy]

African countries have made progress against goat plague, a contagious livestock disease that affects sheep and goats, but experts say stronger political commitment and increased domestic funding are needed to eradicate it.

The warning came during a mid-term review of the Pan-African Programme for the Eradication of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) held on Tuesday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 18 months after the programme launched in February 2025.

The European Union said African governments must increase domestic investment to sustain efforts to eradicate PPR, warning that external funding alone will not eliminate the disease.