African Conferences, May 10th - 16th
Event happening all over Africa between the 10th to 16th of May 2026
Africa Forward Summit
11th - 12th May 2026 - Nairobi, Kenya
The Africa Forward Summit “Africa–France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth” is a Summit of Heads of State and Government to be held on 11–12 May 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya. The Summit is co-hosted by H.E. William Samoei Ruto, C.G.H., President of the Republic of Kenya, and H.E. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic.
The Summit aims to demonstrate the African continent’s innovation capacity and affirm a shared commitment to developing common, mutually beneficial solutions based on effective multilateralism and a spirit of transformative partnership.
This Summit represents a significant opportunity for a paradigm shift to a more balanced, equitable, and mutually respectful partnership anchored on shared aspirations of effective multilateralism, transformative partnership, sustainable development and Africa’s agency in addressing pressing emerging regional and global challenges.
AABS 2026 Connect Conference
13th - 16th May 2026 - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
AABS 2026 Connect Conference is a gathering of global higher-education leaders, innovators, and practitioners designed to foster meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and impact across the sector. Through inspiring keynotes, interactive sessions, and strategic networking opportunities, the conference explores emerging trends, practical solutions, and shared visions for the future of education. The conference creates a dynamic platform where ideas become action and partnerships drive transformative outcomes.
Under the theme “African Values, Global Futures: The Role of Business Schools in Driving a Transforming Continent,” the conference highlights how African business schools are advancing innovation, leadership, and economic transformation across the continent and beyond.
Africa CEO Forum 2026
14th - 15th May 2026 - Kigali, Rwanda
Africa's largest annual private sector summit returns to Kigali, bringing together over 2,800 business leaders, investors, heads of state, ministers, and policymakers from more than 90 countries for two days of high-level dialogue, deal-making, and strategic debate on the continent's economic future.
The 2026 edition centres on the theme of Shared Ownership — exploring how African economies, businesses, and communities can collectively advance meaningful scale and long-term growth. Discussions span executive dialogues, open debates, and bilateral negotiations across sectors including finance, energy, trade, infrastructure, and technology.
Co-hosted by the IFC (World Bank Group) and founded by Jeune Afrique Media Group, the forum is a key destination for CEOs seeking senior-level networking, investors scouting promising opportunities and public-private partnerships, and governments presenting their national development strategies to the international investment community.
The event also hosts the annual Africa CEO Forum Awards, recognising companies, leaders, and investors making a significant contribution to growth across the continent. Knowledge partners include BCG, McKinsey & Company, PwC, and S&P Global.
Forward Africa Leaders Symposium (FALS) Rwanda
15th May 2026 - Kigali, Rwanda
The Forward Africa Leaders Symposium (FALS) is a high-level leadership convening dedicated to aligning leaders' perspectives to shape Africa’s digital, economic, and governance future. Set as the Continental Summit (Africa) and Global Conversations (Out of Africa), the Symposium provides a neutral, forward-looking space for dialogue between private and public stakeholders for consensus-building and strategic action on Africa’s most critical transformation priorities and shared development goals. Positioned at the intersection of digital transformation, governance reform, infrastructure development, strategic investment and inclusive and sustainable growth, FALS is designed to move conversations toward practical frameworks, partnerships, and policy-relevant outcomes.
Cross-border digital infrastructure is no longer just a technical enabler; it is a strategic public good that underpins trade facilitation, financial inclusion, regional value chains, e-governance, interoperability, and digital public services. As trade, governance and service delivery become increasingly digital and Al driven, critical and strategic digital infrastructure must be deliberately designed, governed and financed to reflect Africa’s unique systems and national capabilities to operate seamlessly across borders. While policy frameworks and flagship projects may be in place, national digital capability constraints, fragmented national policies, regulatory misalignment, limited institutional coordination, capacity gaps, siloed investments and limited mechanisms for translating policy ambition into inclusive, measurable outcomes impede interoperability, scale and trust across borders. Without a leadership consensus on what digital “Infrastructure” means for Africa’s unique systems and national capabilities, digital transformation risks reinforcing fragmentation rather than enabling continental integration and sustainable development.
