African leaders, business executives and global investors gathered in Kigali on Thursday for the Africa CEO Forum 2026, with renewed calls for stronger regional cooperation and protection of the continent’s strategic interests.

The two-day forum, organised by Jeune Afrique Media Group and co-hosted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), is holding under the theme: “Scale or Fail: Why Africa Must Embrace Shared Ownership.”

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Rwandan President Paul Kagame urged African countries to take greater responsibility for safeguarding and promoting their interests in spite of the continent’s vast strategic advantages.

Kagame said Africa must leverage its resources and opportunities to drive long-term economic growth and development.

President of the Africa CEO Forum, Amir Ben Yahmed, said meaningful economic expansion on the continent would only be possible through stronger collaboration among governments, investors and private sector operators.

He stressed the need for a culture of shared ownership and trust to unlock Africa’s economic potential.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Rwanda Development Board, Jean-Guy Afrika, said Africa’s growing population and expanding consumer markets offered enormous opportunities for development.

He, however, warned that the continent must transform its demographic and market potential into scalable economic progress.

The annual gathering is regarded as one of the largest meetings of Africa’s private sector, featuring high-level discussions and business engagements on the role of enterprise in accelerating development across the continent.

The Organisers said the 2026 edition attracted more than 2,000 participants from over 75 countries.

Participants are expected to discuss ways of mobilising investment, sharing risks and building cross-border African ownership structures to support the continent’s long-term prosperity. (Xinhua/NAN)

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