Addis Ababa:African political party leaders have officially adopted the Addis Ababa Declaration, signaling a commitment to advance continental economic transformation, strengthen democratic institutions, and develop a shared political roadmap towards Agenda 2040.
According to Ethiopian Press Agency, the Addis Ababa Declaration was formally adopted on November 7, 2026, during the Second African Political Parties Summit (APPS) held in Addis Ababa from November 5-7. The theme of the summit was 'Governing for Growth Political Parties as Architects of Africa's Economic Future.'
A significant outcome of the summit is the decision to create the APPI Agenda 2040, a collective political framework aimed at defining shared continental aspirations, development priorities, and measurable targets for Africa's political, economic, and institutional transformation. The declaration mandates the inaugural Bureau Leadership of the African Political Parties Initiative (APPI), along with its Secretariat, to engage in inclusive consultations with participating parties and present the proposed framework at the next summit.
The summit was convened under the auspices of the APPI, established by the Africa Governance Centre (AGC) in collaboration with Ethiopia's Prosperity Party and under the high patronage of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. The declaration emphasizes the role of political parties in shaping national development policies, preparing public leaders, and enhancing the institutional foundations necessary for sustainable economic growth.
The leaders committed to promoting industrialization, productive investment, technological advancement, and employment creation, focusing on sectors such as manufacturing, agro-processing, modern agriculture, mineral beneficiation, digital industries, and competitive services. They also affirmed the sovereign right of African states to manage their natural resources in accordance with international law, advocating for greater domestic value addition and stronger national productive capacities.
In terms of continental integration, the declaration reaffirms support for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) with commitments to expand intra-African trade, strengthen regional value chains, and improve transport, energy, logistics, and digital connectivity. The leaders also called for increased mobilization of domestic resources, deeper capital markets, stronger development finance institutions, and responsible debt management to finance productive investment and infrastructure development.
On governance, the declaration reaffirms commitments to constitutional order, democratic accountability, political pluralism, the rule of law, fundamental rights and freedoms, peaceful political competition, and the rejection of unconstitutional changes of government. It emphasizes the need for professional and accountable public institutions, advocating for administrative continuity, merit-based systems, and the preservation of institutional knowledge across political transitions.
The document highlights the responsibilities of both governing and opposition parties in shaping long-term national development priorities, scrutinizing policy implementation, and ensuring public accountability. The summit also endorsed measures to strengthen youth participation and women's representation in political leadership and economic decision-making.
A major institutional outcome was the adoption of the APPI Charter on November 6, establishing the initiative's governing framework, institutional organs, and leadership arrangements within the Africa Governance Centre. The declaration also welcomes the endorsement of the inaugural APPI Bureau Leadership for a three-year term.
Additionally, the leaders welcomed the Council of African Political Party Schools and Institutes (CAPPSI) and the Political Academy for Transformational Leadership (PATL) as platforms for political education, policy research, and leadership development. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali's commitment to contribute to the development of PATL and make Ethiopia's leadership training opportunities accessible to political parties across Africa was also acknowledged.
The African Youth in Politics Forum and the Africa Women Political Leadership Summit were recognized as ongoing platforms for enhancing youth and women's participation in continental political cooperation. The declaration mandates APPI's leadership to coordinate the implementation of its commitments, facilitate exchanges among participating parties, and present periodic progress reports to future summits. It also calls for expanded cooperation between African political parties and their counterparts in other regions through political dialogue, policy exchange, and institutional learning.
The Addis Ababa Declaration complements the African Union's Agenda 2063 and establishes a political cooperation framework through which participating parties intend to translate continental development aspirations into national political programs and sustained commitments.
