1. Antimicrobials have contributed to reducing infectious diseases in humans, animals and plants for decades. They have significantly contributed to increasing animal and crop production and improving healthcare. However, the misuse of antimicrobials has created a favourable environment for resistant microbes to develop. 2. Antimicrobials are often misperceived to be a technical challenge of limited impact. However, scientific evidence strongly indicates that antimicrobial resistance represents a major vulnerability in all countries, especially in Africa. A direct result of antimicrobial resistance is an increasing trend in serious illnesses and deaths and increases in health-associated costs, including lowered population productivity. 3. As antimicrobial resistance evolves quietly to become a major health, environmental and economic threat to African countries and in the face of more visible threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, governments need to pay more attention to addressing this issue. 4. There is currently enough evidence to show why antimicrobial resistance occurs, how it develops and its adverse direct and indirect consequences. Therefore, coherent policy actions are urgently needed to overcome this challenge and avoid further impact on people and the environment.