WHO described the achievement as “truly historic” and the culmination of nearly a century of work to stamp out the disease.

Globally, forty four countries and one territory have now been certified as malaria-free.

Certification is granted by the WHO when a country has proven that the chain of indigenous malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes has been interrupted nationwide for at least the previous three consecutive years.

A country must also demonstrate the ability to prevent the re-establishment of transmission.

Malaria kills more than six hundred thousand people every year, ninety five percent of them in Africa, according to the WHO.