By Victor Okoye
The World Public Summit will hold in Africa for the first time on July 29-30, 2026, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The summit, themed “A New World: Africa in Shaping a Shared Future,” will bring together global leaders, experts and change-makers.
Organised by the World Peoples Assembly and African partners, it will attract diplomats, academics, youth leaders, business representatives, media professionals, and civil society groups.
The event builds on discussions from the First World Public Assembly, held in Moscow in September 2025.
It also serves as a preparatory milestone for the Second World Public Assembly scheduled for Moscow on Sept. 18-19, 2026.
Organisers said Africa’s demographic growth, entrepreneurship, regional integration, and cultural heritage continue to strengthen its role in global development.
Discussions will focus on sovereignty, sustainable development, public diplomacy, cultural preservation, education, science, youth engagement, and innovation.
The main business programme will hold on July 30 at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Organisers said the venue underscores the summit’s pan-African outlook and commitment to international dialogue on humanitarian cooperation.
Activities will include plenary sessions, strategic dialogues, and expert panels on education, culture, youth leadership, and international cooperation.
Confirmed participants include Prof. Saidou Madougou of the African Union and Rita Bissoonauth of UNESCO.
Others are Zuzana Schwidrowski of UNECA, ministers, public sector leaders, and business representatives from several African countries.
The ADWA Victory Memorial Museum will host the regional award ceremony of the Fifth International Competition, “Leader of Public Diplomacy.”
The ceremony will be followed by a cultural programme celebrating Africa’s heritage and international cooperation.
A key outcome will be the adoption of the African Communiqué containing recommendations on humanitarian, educational, and cultural cooperation.
The communiqué and other summit outcomes will be presented at the Second World Public Assembly in Moscow.
According to Andrey Belyaninov, Secretary-General of the World Peoples Assembly, the summit will advance dialogue, cultural diversity, and sustainable development.
“The Addis Ababa Summit is an important step toward building a new world founded on mutual respect and cooperation,” he said. (NAN)