KemetLeads
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Director-General of the World Health Organization (since 2017)
The first African to lead the WHO — through the worst pandemic in a century.
The rise
A malaria researcher and former Ethiopian health and foreign minister, Tedros was elected in 2017 as the WHO's first African Director-General.
What they did
He steered the global health body through the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming a relentless voice for vaccine equity between rich and poor nations.
The full picture
The WHO drew heavy criticism over its early pandemic response and great-power pressures, testing his leadership under a global spotlight.
Why it matters
Tedros put global health equity — and Africa's voice in it — at the centre of world affairs.
“No one is safe until everyone is safe.”
What citizens said
Afrobarometer Round 9 (2021–2023) — Ethiopia
Trust in president49%
Trust in parliament44%
Trust in courts60%
% who say 'trust somewhat' or 'trust a lot' · Afrobarometer Dispatch No. 891