The Africa CEO Forum will convene in Kigali on May 14-15, 2026, bringing together over 2,000 CEOs, investors, heads of state and policymakers from more than 75 countries to confront a stark reality: without scale, Africa risks being sidelined in a fragmenting global economy.
Under the theme “The Scale Imperative: Why Africa Must Embrace Shared Ownership,” organizers say the event – established as the continent’s premier public-private dialogue platform – will challenge leaders to move beyond national silos toward cross-border equity, infrastructure and regulatory frameworks.
Organized by Jeune Afrique Media Group and co-hosted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the forum arrives as multilateralism weakens, capital flows realign, and major economies weaponize their corporate giants. Africa’s response, speakers argue, must be continental champions built through African capital.
The agenda targets three strategic levers: shared equity to create multinational firms resilient to shocks; complementary infrastructure serving regional value chains; and harmonized standards enabling free movement of capital, goods and services – including digital infrastructure for health, education, agriculture and payments.
“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.
Makhtar Diop, IFC Managing Director, emphasized execution: “Africa has the capital and opportunity to grow and create quality jobs. What matters now is putting that capital to work at scale – building trust, sharing risk, and investing across borders.”
Timed ten years after AfCFTA negotiations began, the forum aims to convert ambition into commitments. Leaders will be pressed to pledge capital and risk-sharing, positioning African firms to thrive amid geopolitical flux rather than merely survive it.
