Global leaders and diplomats gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 29–30, 2026, for the inaugural World Public Summit in Africa. Operating under the theme New World: Africa in Shaping a Shared Future,
the milestone event convenes over 700 participants to advance Pan-African economic cooperation, cultural diplomacy, and sustainable development initiatives.
Africa is making history by hosting the World Public Summit for the first time. The landmark gathering welcomes global leaders and changemakers to Addis Ababa under the central banner New World: Africa in Shaping a Shared Future.
Hosted by the World Peoples Assembly in partnership with African and international organizations, the summit marks a significant turning point in the continent’s growing role in shaping international dialogue around human-centered leadership, sustainable development, and global governance.
The participant roster spans government officials, diplomats, business leaders, academics, journalists, youth representatives, civil society organizations, and cultural leaders from across Africa and around the world. Explaining the spirit of the convening, Andrey Belyaninov, General Secretary of the World Peoples Assembly, noted that the summit is not just a meeting—it is a space for unity.
“Today, we understand more clearly than ever: the future cannot be built alone. It is born in dialogue, in trust, in the ability to listen to one another and to act together.”
Andrey Belyaninov, General Secretary of the World Peoples Assembly
Pan-African Economic Integration and High-Level Discussions
The programme opened on July 29 with a rigorous series of high-level roundtables and expert discussions. Sessions tackled critical pillars of modern governance, including Pan-African economic integration, civil society collaboration, education, scientific cooperation, cultural diplomacy, and humanitarian partnerships.
The opening plenary, titled Values, Development and Partnership as the Basis of a Sustainable and Just World,
examined how indigenous African values—specifically Ubuntu—can help anchor a more inclusive global future. Additional discussions focused on youth leadership, innovation, ethical AI, and public initiatives designed to forge lasting international partnerships.
Unlike traditional diplomatic summits that focus primarily on high-level debate, this event emphasizes concrete joint initiatives. According to Tsegaye Chama, General Secretary of the Global Black Center, the gathering embodies a unity that is not transactional, but purposeful and conscious, aiming to shape new contours for a world that works for all peoples.
Exhibitions and Cultural Diplomacy in Addis Ababa
Cultural diplomacy occupies a central place on the summit agenda. The event features several prominent showcases, including the Innovations for the Future
exhibition, the contemporary African art exhibition Unity,
and the international initiative The World Paints Happiness.
The Unity
art exhibition, which represents 16 African nations alongside the Afro-Brazilian diaspora, deliberately avoids reducing the continent’s artistic landscape to a uniform visual language. Yanina Dubeykovskaya, communications strategist and Head of the WPS Africa Organizational Committee, explained the curatorial philosophy in an interview with Capitalethiopia following the Addis Ababa sessions.
“A primary goal of the exhibition is to showcase the full diversity of contemporary African art. Therefore, it brings together artists from various countries, working across diverse media and exploring themes shaped by distinct cultural, historical, and social contexts.”
Yanina Dubeykovskaya, Head of the WPS Africa Organizational Committee
Dubeykovskaya emphasized that true unity is built on a deep respect for differences rather than manufactured similarities. Following its run in Ethiopia, the exhibition will move to Moscow, continuing the tradition of introducing Russian audiences to contemporary African art on an international scale.
Interdisciplinary Studies and the Zambezi River Initiative
Beyond fine art, the summit serves as a launchpad for interdisciplinary research and regional infrastructure studies. A core initiative unveiled at the gathering is The Zambezi River: Economy, Society, Soul,
an international study bringing together experts from multiple countries.
The interdisciplinary project explores the socioeconomic importance of the Zambezi River across Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. By examining one of Africa’s most vital waterways, the initiative highlights shared heritage and development potential across southern and central Africa.
Adoption of the African Communiqué
The summit concludes with the adoption of the African Communiqué, a foundational document reflecting the shared vision of participants for stronger international cooperation, sustainable development, and people-centered leadership. With over 700 delegates participating across government, business, science, and civil society, the Addis Ababa gathering establishes cooperative frameworks intended to endure long after the final sessions close.
