The inaugural World Public Summit Africa will take place in Addis Ababa from July 29 to 30, 2026, at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) hall. The high-level gathering will bring together over 700 delegates, including heads of state, diplomats, business leaders, scholars, and civil society organizations, to discuss international relations and continental development. According to Ethionegari, the event operates under the theme The New World: Shaping Africa’s Shared Vision.
Diplomatic Objectives and Leadership
Co-organized by the Global Black Center, Global Serve, and the Moscow-based World Peoples Assembly, the summit marks the first time this event series has been held on African soil, following previous gatherings in Brazil, India, and Russia. The World Peoples Assembly was founded nine years ago and currently connects more than 3,000 member organizations across 150 countries.
Yanina Dubeykovskaya, head of the World Peoples Assembly Africa Organizing Committee, stated during a press conference at the Elilly Hotel that the platform focuses on direct public diplomacy, which she described as a powerful bridge for connecting nations without conflict. Confirmed attendees and speakers include Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie and AU Commission Deputy Chairperson Selma Malika Haddadi. Additionally, ten African leaders and advocates who have excelled in people-to-people diplomacy will receive formal recognition awards.
Agenda and Scientific Initiatives
The two-day conference will feature more than 20 panel discussions. Rather than focusing on commercial trade negotiations, the agenda will prioritize collaborative solutions for social development, with specific focus on:
- Educational and scientific cooperation
- Youth and women leadership
- Public diplomacy
- Preservation of cultural heritage
A major highlight of the event is the launch of three continent-focused initiatives. This includes a continental scientific research initiative titled Zambezi River: Economy, Society, and Spirit
(also referred to as The Zambezi River: Economy, Society, Soul
). This study will examine socio-economic growth and impacts across six nations: Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Cultural Showcase and the “Unity” Exhibition
Running alongside the summit is a contemporary art exhibition titled “Unity.” The showcase features works from prominent artists representing 16 African nations, including Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The exhibition also includes an Afro-Brazilian artist to reflect cultural connections across the diaspora.
Featured artists include Senegal’s Khalifa Mané, Ethiopia’s Selamawit Gebretsadik, and Nigeria’s Precious Longret Samuel. Andrey Belyaninov, Secretary-General of the World Peoples Assembly, stated that art is one of the most effective instruments of public diplomacy and that the exhibition demonstrates the growing role of culture in strengthening dialogue between nations. According to dailynews.co.tz, the “Unity” exhibition will travel to Moscow after the summit concludes.
Global Integration and Future Outcomes
The summit will conclude with the adoption of the African Communiqué,
also known as the Addis Ababa Declaration. This document will serve as Africa’s official contribution to the upcoming Second International Assembly in Moscow, which will continue the World Peoples Assembly’s year-round cycle of international cooperation. Tsegaye Chama, General Secretary of the Global Black Center, stated that the summit would be delivered with exceptional distinction, reflecting the spirit of the World Peoples Assembly.
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