Ethiopia’s sustained push into infrastructure, energy, industry and productive sectors shows a clear commitment to economic transformation, Africa Governance Centre Executive Chair Benedicta Lasi said.
Speaking on the second day of the Second African Political Parties Summit, Lasi praised the country’s development drive and congratulated Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, his government and the Ethiopian people for their dedication to national transformation. She noted that Ethiopia’s Medemer-inspired economic policies have gained traction in recent years, supporting sustainable progress while elevating a new generation of young leaders.
Lasi underlined the critical role of political parties in long-term development. Priorities such as industrialization, energy systems and agricultural productivity, she said, demand consistent commitment that outlasts electoral cycles. Parties must therefore prepare capable leaders, craft sound policies and build institutional capacity well before taking office.
“An election can place a party in government overnight, but it cannot supply overnight knowledge required to run a ministry, negotiate a major contract, or manage the national economy,” she observed. Party schools, research institutions and robust policy structures are essential, she added, to test ideas, develop specialized expertise and ready individuals for public responsibility. Political parties should also help safeguard development priorities across successive governments so that national programmes continue uninterrupted.
Lasi called for closer cooperation between the African Union and political parties to advance Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). She expressed hope that such collaboration would bolster the proposed African Political Parties Agenda 2040, which seeks to set standards for internal democracy, national development visions and leadership development while promoting women’s participation and youth contribution.
Highlighting the Centre’s own work, Lasi pointed to the African Political Parties Initiative (APPI), launched in 2025. The platform enables parties to share experiences and strengthen their capacity to govern. It has already expanded international ties through partnerships in Latin America and Asia, culminating in the Intercontinental Dialogue among Political Parties held in Seoul, South Korea, in September 2026. The Centre is also working with African legislative bodies to enhance parliamentarians’ ability to shape national development policies and support economic transformation.
