The Society for AIDS in Africa was founded in 1989 at the fourth International Symposium on AIDS and Associated Cancers in Africa (now ICASA) held in Marseille France by a group of African scientist, activists and advocates in response to this epidemic. The establishment of the Society was the effect of the agitations of some African scientists for the conference to be organized on the African soil.

These agitations had begun the previous year (1988) at the third meeting in Arusha, Tanzania. The conference had until then been organized outside the African continent.

The cause of these scientists was supported by the Director of WHO, Peter Piot. At the 1990 conference held in DR Congo, an executive committee was established to oversee the establishment of the society and to coordinate subsequent ICASA meetings.

The society was officially registered in Nairobi, Kenya. Founding members of the SAA are: Prof.

Mboup from Senegal, Prof. Kaptue from Cameroon, Dr.Sam Okware from Uganda, Prof.

Soyinka from Nigeria, Prof. Kadio and Prof.

Gershey-Damet from Cote d Ivore, Dr. Patrick Kenya and Dr.

Owili from Kenya, Dr. M Pelle from Congo Brazzaville, Dr.

Kalenganyi and Dr Kapita from DR Congo, Prof. Mhalu from Tanzania, Prof.

Luo from Zambia, Prof. Latif from Zimbabwe, Dr.

Abdulrahman Sow from Mauritania, Dr. Kanki P from USA, Prof.

Abdellah Benslimane from Morocco, Dr. Fatia Mohamoud from Sudan and Prof.

Ahmed Zribi from Tunisia.