Summit
African Political Parties Summit (APPS)
The annual flagship political convening of the African Political Parties Initiative, providing structured inter-party dialogue, leadership development, reform consensus and political system renewal.
About APPS
A long-term institutional platform
The African Political Parties Summit (APPS) is the annual flagship political convening of the African Political Parties Initiative (APPI), bringing together heads of state, leaders of political parties, secretaries-general, parliamentarians, political thinkers, and strategic partners to shape the future of political leadership and party governance across Africa.
Unlike traditional political events, APPS is not a one-off gathering but part of a long-term institutional platform designed to deepen political accountability and democratic transformation.
Next summit details
APPS 2026 — Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Theme
The theme of the second edition will be announced by the APPI Executive Secretariat.
Previous edition (Accra 2025): “From Politics to Prosperity: Strengthening Inter-Party Collaboration for Africa's Development and Economic Transformation.”
- Dates
- Late October 2026Exact dates to be confirmed by the Secretariat
- Venue
- African Union VillageAddis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Edition
- Second APPSFollowing Accra 2025
Host city
APPS 2026 will be held at the African Union Village in Addis Ababa, the diplomatic capital of the continent.
Agenda highlights
- Presidential Panel
- Strategic sessions on party policy alignment with AfCFTA and Agenda 2063
- Launch of the Political Academy for Transformative Leadership
- Women and Youth Political Forums
- Exhibition of party knowledge products and reform toolkits
Summit structure
Each annual APPS is built around a structured programme
Presidential and Party Leaders Panel
A strategic roundtable with sitting heads of state and party chairs to discuss political reform, transitions, and continental leadership.
Plenary Sessions and High-Level Panels
Thematic sessions covering intra-party democracy, policy capacity, inclusive leadership, party financing, governance innovations, and regional integration.
Breakout Sessions and Policy Clusters
Facilitated dialogues on key reform areas such as constitutional change, digital democracy, parliamentary reform, and leadership education.
Institutional Declarations and Communiqués
Collective commitments signed and endorsed by participating political parties and heads of delegation.
Outcomes & declarations
Each edition delivers concrete outcomes
A formal Summit Declaration signed by participating parties
A series of Joint Commitments tracked through the APPI Implementation Framework
Media coverage and dissemination of summit proceedings across the continent
Summit resources
Plan your participation
Note for administrators
APPS 2026 is confirmed for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in late October 2026; exact dates and venue details will be published once finalised. A Past Summits Archive is not published in Phase 1.
Special forums
Events within the summit programme
- African Youth in Politics Forum (AYPF)
- Continental Taskforce on Political Engagement for AfCFTA (CTPE-AfCFTA) Consultations
- Political Education Roundtables
- Dialogue on Peaceful Transitions and Conflict Prevention