Kigali to Host Africa CEO Forum 2026 Amid Push for Shared Ownership
As the global economic landscape undergoes a profound realignment, the Africa CEO Forum has announced that its next edition will take place in Kigali, Rwanda, on 14-15 May 2026.
The summit arrives at a critical juncture where multilateralism is being challenged and capital flows are being aggressively reshaped. With the theme “The Scale Imperative: Why Africa Must Embrace Shared Ownership,” the Forum is issuing a blunt ultimatum to the continent’s leaders: scale or fail.
A Strategic Mandate for Corporate Champions
The 2026 edition, organized by Jeune Afrique Media Group and co-hosted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), will convene over 2,000 CEOs, investors, and heads of state from 75 countries. The core mission is to shift Africa’s trajectory from “economic patriotism”—often limited by national borders—to a model of transnational cooperation.
“If Africa wants to compete in a world defined by scale, it must move beyond economic patriotism and embrace a new model: African capital investing together,” said Amir Ben Yahmed, President of the Africa CEO Forum.
High-Level Political Backing
The Forum’s reputation as the premier platform for public-private dialogue is underscored by a heavy-hitting guest list. Confirmed VIPs include:
- Heads of State: Paul Kagame (Rwanda) and Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Nigeria).
- Government Leaders: Prime Ministers from Mozambique, Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea.
- Key Ministers: Strategic representation from Angola, Senegal, Gabon, and Nigeria.
Three Levers to Build Continental Scale
To move from ambition to action, the Forum will focus on three strategic pillars designed to create a unified economic front:
| Pillar | Strategic Objective |
| Shared Equity | Unlocking cross-border investment to build multinational African champions and mobilizing institutional capital. |
| Shared Infrastructure | Designing regional value chains and transformative projects that serve more than just national interests. |
| Shared Frameworks | Harmonizing regulations and building “digital rails” for health, agriculture, and payments to ensure the free flow of goods and capital. |
Turning Ambition into Commitment
Ten years after the start of AfCFTA negotiations, the 2026 Forum aims to be the catalyst for concrete deals rather than just policy discussions. Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of the IFC, emphasized that the continent already possesses the necessary capital; the challenge lies in deployment. “What matters now is putting that capital to work at scale. That means building trust, sharing risk, and investing across borders,” Diop stated.
Jean Guy Afrika, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, echoed this sentiment, noting that the event represents a defining moment to consolidate “fragmented success into collective strength.”
As global powers increasingly leverage their own corporate giants to project influence, the Africa CEO Forum 2026 stands as a call to action for the continent to secure its long-term prosperity through unity. In a world that is fragmenting, Africa’s first line of defense is its ability to grow together.
About the Africa CEO Forum
Founded in 2012, the Africa CEO Forum is the leading platform for the CEOs of Africa’s largest companies, investors, and heads of state. Created by Jeune Afrique Media Group and co-organized with the IFC, the Forum seeks to provide innovative solutions to advance the continent’s private sector.
