Southern African leaders meet amid mpox concerns and a political crackdown in summit host Zimbabwe

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — African leaders will meet in Zimbabwe on Saturday for a scheduled summit of the 16-nation Southern African Development Community that may discuss the rising issue of mpox outbreaks across the continent but is less likely to tackle international concerns about the human rights record of its host.

This week, the World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreaks in Africa a global health emergency. The SADC region includes Congo, which has more than 90% of mpox cases. Mpox has been present in central and West Africa for years, but it has been detected in more than a dozen African countries this year, including some where it was never previously reported.

Scientists have also identified a new form of mpox in Congo that might be more infectious. WHO raised concerns it might start to spill over international borders, and Sweden has reported its first case of the new variant.

South Africa’s Democratic Alliance party, which is part of the coalition government, has urged South African delegates at the SADC summit to raise the issue of mpox. South Africa and other southern African nations have reported only a few cases, but the Democratic Alliance said Congo’s large outbreak “shows just how fast the situation can change.”