All eyes are on Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where the 2025 Africa CEO Forum has officially kicked off — drawing more than 2,000 top-level leaders from across the globe in a high-stakes push to reshape the continent’s economic future.
The two-day summit, now in its twelfth year, is being hosted by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara. It’s a joint effort by the Jeune Afrique Media Group and the International Finance Corporation, with a bold mission: to forge a new ‘public-private deal’ — a framework many say is urgently needed to address Africa’s deepening debt challenges, declining international aid, and the rising pressure to build stronger regional trade alliances.
In his opening remarks, President Ouattara didn’t mince words, acknowledging the sweeping global disruptions and economic uncertainty. But he emphasized that Côte d’Ivoire’s strong private-sector investments and macroeconomic stability are proof that African nations can thrive with the right policies.
He urged the continent to double down on value-added processing of raw materials and to fast-track the African Continental Free Trade Area — or AfCFTA — calling the forum a ‘moment of truth’ for African leadership.
The forum’s discussions are centered around three critical pillars: boosting the effectiveness of economic governance, aligning regulatory frameworks with business realities, and accelerating integration under the AfCFTA to create a unified African market.
High-profile leaders from across the continent are in attendance, including South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Senegal’s newly elected Bassirou Diomaye Faye, and Mauritania’s Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. Their presence signals not just political commitment — but also strategic positioning, as the continent heads into a pivotal African Development Bank presidential election later this month.
Over 900 CEOs are on site, alongside global business icons from firms like Orange, Visa, MSC, and Proparco. Even Afrobeats megastar Davido made an appearance, underscoring the growing fusion of culture, capital, and influence on Africa’s business stage.
Forum co-organizer Amir Ben Yahmed warned that Africa’s surging debt burdens, once thought to be a thing of the past, are back — and that the real challenge lies in elevating public governance to meet the demands of modern economies. IFC Managing Director Makhtar Diop echoed the call, saying the continent’s untapped potential depends on mobilizing private capital and forging stronger public-private bonds.
A key moment is expected during a live debate between candidates vying to lead the African Development Bank — a role seen as critical to steering the continent through these next economic crossroads.
As the forum continues tomorrow, the question remains: can African leaders and private sector pioneers come together to turn ambition into action? At stake — the future of one of the world’s youngest and fastest-growing regions.
We will continue to follow developments from Abidjan.
Reporting by Ehud Jones.
