Officials in Zambia have postponed the signing of a U.S. health aid pact exceeding 1 billion US dollars, citing sections of the draft that conflict with the country’s priorities, a government spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The agreement was intended to span five years, supporting programmes targeting HIV and malaria, boosting maternal and child health services, and strengthening preparedness for disease outbreaks. The draft also requires Zambia to provide around 340 million US dollars in co-financing alongside U.S. funding, according to documents reviewed by Reuters.

The delay followed revisions that introduced a section Zambian authorities described as problematic. “It did not align with the position and interests of the government of Zambia... We have therefore requested further revisions to the content in question,” a Ministry of Health spokesperson told Reuters, declining to elaborate.

Concerns have also been raised by health advocates, who note that certain provisions could tie aid to mining access and raise data-sharing risks, complicating the path to finalising the pact.

The government’s request for revisions reflects an effort to ensure that international assistance aligns with domestic objectives and that co-financing commitments are clearly defined before the agreement is signed.