Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is set to host the World Public Summit for the first time on African soil, marking a significant milestone in the continent’s growing role in shaping global dialogue and international cooperation.
Scheduled for 29 and 30 July 2026, the summit, themed “A New World: Africa in Shaping a Shared Future,” will bring together leaders in public diplomacy, representatives of international organisations, academics, experts, youth leaders, business executives, media professionals and civil society actors from across Africa and beyond. Organisers say participants from all 54 African countries are expected to attend.
The event is being organised by the World Peoples Assembly in partnership with African organisations and will serve as a key platform for discussions on sovereignty, sustainable development, education, science, cultural preservation, youth engagement, innovation and international cooperation.
According to organisers, the summit builds on the momentum of the First World Public Assembly, “A New World of Conscious Unity,” held in Moscow in September 2025. It also forms part of preparations for the Second World Public Assembly, “A New World: Values That Unite,” scheduled for Moscow on 18 and 19 September 2026.
The main business programme will take place on 30 July at the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, underscoring the summit’s pan African focus and providing a venue for discussions on humanitarian cooperation and public diplomacy.
The programme will feature plenary sessions, strategic dialogues and expert panels addressing values based development, cultural diplomacy, education, youth leadership, innovation and emerging partnerships. Additional sessions are expected to focus on infrastructure, food security, scientific cooperation, media engagement and technology driven development.
Among those confirmed to participate are Saidou Madougou, Director of the Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation of the African Union; Rita Bissoonauth, Director of the UNESCO Liaison Office to the African Union and UNECA; and Zuzana Schwidrowski, Director of the Macroeconomics, Finance and Governance Division of UNECA.
The summit will also host the regional award ceremony of the Fifth International Competition, Leader of Public Diplomacy, at the ADWA Victory Memorial Museum, followed by a cultural programme celebrating Africa’s heritage and diversity.
A major outcome of the gathering is expected to be the adoption of the African Communiqué, a document containing recommendations aimed at strengthening humanitarian, educational, cultural and public cooperation between African countries and other regions of the world.
The communiqué, alongside other initiatives and recommendations emerging from the summit, will be presented at the Second World Public Assembly in Moscow later in the year.
Speaking ahead of the event, General Secretary of the World Peoples Assembly, Andrey Belyaninov, said: “the Addis Ababa Summit is an important step toward building a new world founded on mutual respect, cultural diversity, dialogue and sustainable development.”
Organisers said the summit reflects Africa’s growing influence in global affairs, citing the continent’s demographic expansion, entrepreneurial growth, increasing regional integration and vibrant civil society as key drivers of its emergence as a major centre of global development.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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