The 2026 edition of the Africa CEO Forum will be held on May 14 and 15 at the Kigali Convention Centre. It will bring together business leaders, investors, policymakers, and development finance institutions from Africa and beyond. ALSO READ: Six presidents expected in Kigali for Africa CEO Forum Founded in 2012 by Jeune Afrique Media Group and co-hosted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the forum has grown to become a platform that connects African decision-makers with international investors and institutions operating on the continent. ALSO READ: Businesses must leverage the Africa CEO Forum The 2026 edition will be held under the theme “The scale imperative: Why Africa must embrace shared ownership.” Discussions are expected to focus on cross-border cooperation, shared investment models and building continental-scale African enterprises. Here are nine things to know about the event. Purpose of the forum The Africa CEO Forum provides support to African business leaders through in-person and digital events, reports and expert insights aimed at facilitating business and promoting innovative solutions for the continent’s economic progress. Scale of participation The summit brings together around 2,000 participants annually from more than 70 countries, including over 1,000 CEOs, more than 75 heads of state and ministers, leaders of development finance institutions and hundreds of journalists from Africa and beyond. The 2025 edition recorded more than 2,800 participants from 90 countries, over 1,200 Chief-suite executives, more than 500 government participants and over 300 speakers and journalists. Focus of discussions Discussions will focus on how African countries and businesses can work together across borders through shared equity, shared infrastructure and shared frameworks to build continental champions and strengthen Africa’s competitiveness globally. Leaders will explore cross-border partnerships, risk-sharing mechanisms and strategies for developing large-scale African projects and industries capable of competing internationally. Key economic topics Key areas of discussion will include financing real estate, mining and energy integration, industrialisation, infrastructure development, digital sovereignty, institutional capital mobilisation and cross-border trade and payment systems. Investment and deal-making sessions A key feature of the forum will be the “Invest In” sessions, where CEOs and investors engage with African government officials on investment opportunities, development strategies and sector pipelines. The programme will cover trade, industrialisation, financing, job creation and the role of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in expanding African markets. The forum is designed to go beyond discussion by supporting investment partnerships, business deals and public-private agreements aimed at long-term economic growth, industrial competitiveness and large-scale capital mobilisation across the continent. The Forum has facilitated more than $1 billion in investment commitments over the last two editions through agreements involving governments, development finance institutions and private sector leaders. High-Level participation The 2026 edition will bring together several of the continent’s top leaders, highlighting the Africa CEO Forum’s role as a leading platform for public-private dialogue in Africa. Confirmed participants include Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema of Gabon, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania, Daniel Chapo of Mozambique, and Mamadi Doumbouya of Guinea. Also attending are several prime ministers, including Justin Nsengiyumva of Rwanda, Maria Benvinda Levi of Mozambique, Robert Beugré Mambé of Côte d’Ivoire, Amadou Oury Bah of Guinea, and Mwigulu Nchemba of Tanzania. Government ministers will also be present, among them José De Lima Massano of Angola, Minister of State for Economic Coordination; Birame Souleye Diop of Senegal, Minister of Energy, Petroleum and Mines; Bouna Sylla of Guinea, Minister of Mines and Geology; Muhammad Ali Pate of Nigeria, Minister of Health and Social Welfare; and Thierry Minko of Gabon, Minister of Economy, Finance, Debt and Shareholdings. Format and structure The forum is structured as a two-day summit combining plenary sessions, thematic panels and structured business meetings. It opens with high-level discussions, followed by sector-focused panels and structured business-to-business and business-to-government engagements aimed at advancing investment opportunities and partnerships. History and host cities The forum began in Geneva in 2012, moved to Abidjan in 2015, and has since rotated across different locations, including Kigali, which previously hosted in 2019 and 2024. The 2020 edition was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while the 2021 edition was held virtually. Leadership perspectives The forum emphasises stronger coordination in Africa’s growth approach, with a focus on improving how capital is deployed to support job creation and industrial development. It also points to the need for more efficient investment systems that can support long-term economic transformation in the continent.
