The World Economic Forum (WEF) will resume hosting its Africa summit in South Africa in April 2027, ending a seven-year hiatus triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation has said.
This marks a significant return of one of the continent’s most prominent global economic convenings.
The meeting will be held either in Johannesburg or Cape Town, according to Chido Munyati, head of Africa at the WEF, who disclosed the plans in an interview with CNBC Africa on the sidelines of the Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
The revival of the Africa summit comes at a critical moment for the continent as governments and businesses navigate post-pandemic recovery, persistent debt pressures, currency volatility and slower global growth, alongside opportunities linked to energy transition, digitalisation and regional trade integration.
The last WEF Africa meeting took place in Cape Town from September 4 to 6, 2019, months before the outbreak of the pandemic forced the cancellation of large-scale international gatherings and disrupted the Forum’s regional programmes.
Since then, Africa-focused discussions have largely been folded into the WEF’s annual Davos meeting and other global platforms, limiting a dedicated space for in-depth engagement on the continent’s specific challenges and opportunities.
WEF Africa meetings traditionally bring together African heads of state, senior policymakers, global and regional business leaders, investors, development finance institutions and civil society actors.
The agenda typically spans economic growth, investment flows, governance reforms, infrastructure development, industrialisation, climate resilience and regional integration, including the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Munyati said the decision to revive the Africa summit reflects growing recognition of the continent’s strategic importance in the global economy, particularly as supply chains are reconfigured and competition for critical minerals, energy resources and new growth markets intensifies.
The 2027 summit is expected to play a key role in shaping Africa-focused conversations within the broader global economic agenda, providing a platform to align public and private sector priorities, attract long-term investment and deepen partnerships between Africa and the rest of the world.
South Africa, which has previously hosted multiple editions of the summit, is seen as a natural choice given its relatively developed infrastructure and role as a gateway for international engagement with the continent.
