The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Cape Verde malaria free.

The West African nation was officially certified by the international body during a live ceremony attended by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Cape Verde Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva welcomed the milestone, for a country in which tourism is its main economic activity.

The historic milestone makes Cape Verde only the third country in the African region to achieve elimination status of the disease, following Mauritius and Algeria.

According to the WHO, Africa carries a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden, being home to 94% of malaria cases, and 95% of malaria deaths.