Ethiopia to Host Second African Political Parties Summit to Advance Political Leadership for Economic Transformation
By Eugene Nyarko Jnr., Accra, Ghana | August 25, 2026 —
The Africa Governance Centre (AGC), in collaboration with the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, will convene the second edition of the African Political Parties Summit (APPS) from November 5 to 7, 2026, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The summit will be held under the high patronage of H.E. Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, on the theme: “Governing for Growth: Political Parties as Architects of Africa’s Economic Future.”
The three-day summit is expected to bring together political party leaders and representatives, policymakers, parliamentarians, governance institutions, development partners, academics, civil society organisations, youth leaders and private-sector actors to deliberate on the role of political leadership in advancing Africa’s economic transformation and sustainable development.
The 2026 summit comes at a time when countries across the continent are pursuing economic transformation, regional integration, industrialisation and inclusive development while confronting complex governance and socio-economic challenges.
The organisers said political parties have a central role in shaping public policy, strengthening democratic institutions and driving national development priorities, making political leadership critical to efforts to build resilient economies, accountable institutions and sustainable development pathways.
The summit will also align with the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, particularly its vision of a prosperous, integrated and peaceful Africa driven by effective leadership, strong institutions and people-centred development.
According to the organisers, the summit will provide a platform for political actors and governance stakeholders to examine the political conditions required to accelerate Africa’s transformation agenda.
The 2026 edition will build on the outcomes of the inaugural African Political Parties Summit held in Accra, Ghana, in 2025, which culminated in the Accra Declaration and established a foundation for continued continental dialogue on the role of political parties in Africa’s governance and development.
The Addis Ababa summit is expected to deepen that conversation and develop a new set of commitments through the Addis Ababa Declaration.
Two flagship platforms — the African Youth in Politics Forum (AYPF) and the Africa Women Political Leadership Summit (AWPLS) — will also form part of the summit.
The platforms will provide dedicated spaces to promote meaningful participation of young people and women in political leadership, strengthen inclusive governance and explore pathways for greater representation in Africa’s political systems.
The organisers said outcomes and recommendations from the APPS, AYPF and AWPLS would feed into the Addis Ababa Declaration, which is expected to capture shared priorities and commitments towards strengthening political leadership, inclusive governance and development-oriented political institutions across Africa.
Through high-level plenary sessions, thematic dialogues and stakeholder engagements, the second edition of the African Political Parties Summit is expected to deepen collaboration among political actors and contribute to creating a governance environment capable of supporting Africa’s aspirations for growth, stability and prosperity.
