Over 800 delegates expected as African political leaders gather to strengthen political governance, economic policy leadership and continental cooperation
The Africa Governance Centre (AGC), through its African Political Parties Initiative (APPI), will convene the second African Political Parties Summit (APPS 2026) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 5 to 7 November 2026, bringing together approximately 800 delegates from more than 30 African countries.
Hosted in partnership with Ethiopia’s Prosperity Party under the high patronage of the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali, the Summit will bring together leaders and representatives of more than 50 political parties, alongside senior government officials, former Heads of State and Government, parliamentarians, diplomatic representatives, and leaders of continental and international institutions.
Held under the theme, “Governing for Growth: African Political Parties as Architects of Africa’s Economic Future,” the Summit will examine the contribution of political institutions to Africa’s economic transformation, with particular attention to the capacity of political parties to develop credible economic programmes, strengthen public institutions, promote productive employment, and sustain national development priorities across successive political administrations.
The three-day gathering, which will take place at the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum, will provide a continental platform for political leaders to consider the institutional and policy foundations necessary to accelerate Africa’s development.
Among the prominent personalities expected to participate are H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania; Dr Fateh Boutbig, President of the Pan-African Parliament; H.E. Pascal Affi N’Guessan, former Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire; H.E. Adolphe Muzito, former Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and Dr Asha-Rose Migiro, former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Senior political figures and representatives of political institutions from Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and other African countries are also expected to participate.
The Addis Ababa Summit marks an important stage in the institutional development of the African Political Parties Initiative, which was established by the Africa Governance Centre and officially launched on 7 March 2025 in Accra, Ghana, by H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana and leader of the National Democratic Congress.
The Initiative convened its inaugural African Political Parties Summit in Accra in August 2025, bringing together political parties and institutional representatives from across the continent. The gathering culminated in the Accra Declaration, which affirmed the importance of stronger cooperation among African political parties in advancing democratic governance, institutional development, and Africa’s economic transformation.
Building on the commitments made in Accra, the 2026 Summit will advance discussions on institutionalising cooperation among African political parties and developing a common agenda to strengthen their contributions to national and continental development.
Particular attention will be given to the relationship between political governance and economic performance, including industrial development, economic diversification, employment creation, public institutional capacity, and the formulation of coherent long-term development policies.
The Summit will also consider the next phase of APPI’s institutional development, including its proposed governance framework and leadership arrangements, alongside the development of APPI Agenda 2040. This long-term continental agenda is intended to strengthen political party institutions, policy competence, organisational development, and the contribution of political leadership to Africa’s transformation.
The proposed agenda will provide a basis for continued consultations among participating political parties on the political and institutional conditions necessary for sustained economic and social progress.
Further institutional discussions will address the role of the Council of African Political Party Schools and Institutes (CAPPSI) in advancing political education, leadership development, policy research, and institutional cooperation among political party schools and training institutions.
Operating within APPI under the Africa Governance Centre, CAPPSI is intended to support the development of stronger political institutions and enhance the capacity of political parties to formulate and implement effective public policies.
The programme will also feature the African Youth in Politics Forum and the Africa Women Political Leadership Summit, providing dedicated platforms for examining the participation of young people and women in political leadership and national development.
Discussions will address political representation, leadership opportunities, economic participation, youth employment, access to political institutions, and the contribution of women and young political leaders to economic policymaking and public administration.
The Summit takes place against the backdrop of continuing efforts across Africa to accelerate economic growth, strengthen public institutions, and expand opportunities for the continent’s growing population.
As political parties remain central to the formation of governments, the development of public policies, and the determination of national economic priorities, their institutional capabilities and approaches to governance have significant implications for Africa’s long-term development.
The Africa Governance Centre considers the African Political Parties Summit an important continental mechanism for sustained engagement among political parties on matters of common interest, including governance, economic transformation, political institution-building, and cooperation across national and ideological boundaries.
Through APPI and its associated platforms, the Centre seeks to strengthen the contribution of political parties to the development of capable institutions, effective national policies, and the advancement of Africa’s collective aspirations.
The Addis Ababa Summit is expected to conclude with a declaration reflecting the principal deliberations and commitments of participating political parties, alongside further institutional measures to guide cooperation and engagement beyond 2026.
ENDS
About the Africa Governance Centre
The Africa Governance Centre (AGC) is a pan-African institution dedicated to advancing governance, institutional development, and public policy across the continent.
Its work encompasses political governance, economic governance, security governance, natural resource governance, climate and sustainability, and media and democracy.
Through research, policy engagement, institutional cooperation, and continental convenings, AGC works with political institutions, governments, and other stakeholders to strengthen governance and support Africa’s long-term development.
The African Political Parties Initiative (APPI) is an initiative of the Africa Governance Centre established to promote cooperation, institutional development, and policy engagement among African political parties.