Africa: Human Rights Watch Challenges 'Terms' of U.S. Health Aid to African Countries

A new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) alleges that the United States is conditioning vital health aid to several African countries, including Liberia, on broad access to health information systems, pathogen samples, and compliance monitoring. The report examines bilateral agreements signed after major U.S. aid changes in 2025. HRW says these conditions jeopardize human rights, patient confidentiality, and international efforts for equitable pathogen sharing. In Liberia, this comes amid a struggling healthcare system with high mortality rates and donor dependency.