The US-Africa Business Summit Postponed Due to Ebola Outbreak

The 18th US-Africa Business Summit, originally scheduled to take place in Mauritius from July 26 to 29, 2026, has been postponed indefinitely. This decision was jointly announced on June 5 by the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) and the Mauritian government, following the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, which the WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern on May 17, 2026, due to the rising number of cases, their cross-border spread, and uncertainties regarding the true extent of the crisis.

The event was set to gather over 2,500 attendees, including African heads of state, ministers, high-ranking American officials, and business leaders from both continents. Holding such a gathering during an active outbreak would have been irresponsible, both parties concluded. The Cabinet, convened on Friday under the presidency of Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, formalized the decision and subsequently adopted a series of preventive measures: a temporary entry ban for any foreigner who has stayed in the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the 21 days prior to their travel, a mandatory quarantine of the same duration for affected Mauritians and valid permit holders, and the designation of the SAJ Recreational Center in Riambel as the official quarantine site.

The organizers wish to clarify that this is a postponement and not a cancellation. "Mauritius remains fully committed to its mission of strengthening American-African economic ties," stated Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful, assuring that the island continues to be a co-organizer of the summit. A new date will be announced as soon as possible.