The Second African Political Parties Summit concluded today with the adoption of the Addis Ababa Declaration, establishing a continental framework to strengthen political leadership, democratic governance and the role of political parties in driving Africa’s economic transformation.
The declaration emphasises that Africa’s economic transformation depends on deliberate political choices, capable public institutions, sustained productive investment and consistent national development priorities. It recognises political parties as key actors in shaping national policies, preparing leaders for public office and providing long-term political direction.
A major institutional outcome was the adoption on 6 November of the Charter of the African Political Parties Initiative (APPI). The Charter establishes the initiative’s governing framework, institutional organs and leadership arrangements within the Africa Governance Centre. Delegates also endorsed the inaugural APPI Bureau Leadership for a three-year term, marking the start of the initiative’s institutional transition.
Participants further agreed to launch an inclusive continental consultation process to develop APPI Agenda 2040. The agenda will set shared aspirations, development priorities and measurable goals for Africa’s political, economic and institutional transformation, and is expected to complement the African Union’s Agenda 2063 by helping parties translate continental aspirations into concrete political programmes and sustained commitments.
On economic transformation, the declaration calls on political parties to promote policies supporting industrialisation, productive investment, technological development and job creation, particularly in manufacturing, agro-processing, modern agriculture, mineral beneficiation, digital industries and competitive services. Parties committed to mobilising legislative and public support for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), expanding intra-African trade, strengthening regional value chains, and improving transport, logistics, energy and digital connectivity.
It affirms Africa’s sovereign right to determine the development and use of its natural resources while promoting domestic value addition and the contribution of resource wealth to national prosperity. The text also calls for greater mobilisation of domestic financial resources, stronger capital markets and development finance institutions, transparent public financial management, accountable resource allocation and prudent debt governance. Leaders stressed the need for fairer international economic partnerships, improved access to technology and development finance, and stronger African participation in global value chains.
On governance, the declaration reaffirms commitment to constitutionalism, democratic accountability, political pluralism, the rule of law, fundamental rights and peaceful political competition. It unequivocally rejects unconstitutional changes of government. It highlights the importance of preserving institutional memory, professional expertise and administrative continuity during political transitions, and encourages constructive engagement between governing and opposition parties on long-term national priorities. The declaration further calls for professional, effective and accountable public institutions capable of delivering practical results.
Recognising Africa’s youthful population, the declaration urges greater investment in education, technical training, technology, enterprise development and productive employment. It reaffirms women’s equal participation in political leadership, public administration and economic decision-making.
To strengthen continental political education and leadership development, the summit agreed to establish the Council of African Political Party Schools and Institutes (CAPPSI) and the Political Academy for Transformational Leadership (PATL) under the APPI framework. The declaration welcomes Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s pledge to support the development of PATL and to make Ethiopia’s leadership training opportunities accessible to political parties across Africa, recognising the commitment as an important contribution to policy competence, institutional learning and leadership succession. It also recognises the African Youth in Politics Forum and the Africa Women Political Leadership Summit as continuing platforms within APPI.
The APPI Bureau Leadership and its Secretariat are mandated to facilitate implementation of the declaration, promote exchanges of national experiences and institutional practices, and present periodic progress reports to the African Political Parties Summit.
The declaration concludes by reaffirming the collective responsibility of African political parties to strengthen public institutions, advance productive economic transformation and pursue the long-term prosperity of African peoples. It expresses appreciation to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for his high patronage of the summit and to the Ethiopian Government, people and Prosperity Party for hosting the gathering in Addis Ababa from 5 to 7 November 2026.
