Kaseya will head the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the agency that helps member states deal with health emergencies and design programs to address public health.
The 53-year-old doctor beat out 180 applicants, including Kenyan Ahmed Ogwell, who was once interim director of the Africa CDC.
“It is the epilogue of a long diplomatic struggle led by President Felix Tshisekedi for six months. With this vote, the DRC has just won a major diplomatic victory by snatching this post,” Tshisekedi's office said.
At the CDC, Dr. Kaseya replaces Cameroonian-American virologist John Nkengasong who, since May 2022, has been leading and overseeing US President Joe Biden's Program to Fight HIV/AIDS (PEPFAR).
