The African Development Bank headquarters in Abidjan recently hosted the 2026 African Economic Conference (AEC) from July 10 to 12. This significant event, co-organized by the United Nations Development Programme and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, centered on the critical theme of “Strengthening Africa’s Geopolitical Action and Trade Resilience in a Multipolar World.”

Souleymane Diarrassouba, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Planning and Development, formally inaugurated the proceedings. Throughout the conference, more than 4,000 participants connected virtually, engaging deeply with the discussions.

African chief economists’ network launched

A major outcome of the conference was the official establishment of the African Chief Economists’ Network (ACE-Network), a landmark announcement made on the final day. This innovative platform is designed to synchronize the continent’s economic expertise and harmonize public policies, enabling a more unified response to global disruptions.

The ACE-Network is envisioned as a crucial mechanism for developing tailored solutions to the complex challenges Africa navigates amidst an increasingly fragmented geopolitical landscape. Professor Kevin Urama, Vice-President of the African Development Bank, underscored the imperative for Africa to bolster its indigenous knowledge systems to assert greater influence within the global financial order.

From dependence to strategic autonomy

Speakers repeatedly emphasized the necessity of processing Africa’s vast resources domestically rather than exporting them in raw form. Ahunna Eziakonwa, Regional Director for Africa at the UNDP, articulated that Africa’s inherent economic strength serves as its most potent geopolitical leverage.

Raymond Gilpin, Chief Economist for UNDP Africa, cautioned that global uncertainties would continue to test the resilience of African institutions. Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, Senior Vice-President of the AfDB Group, issued a call for the conference’s valuable recommendations to be translated into tangible decisions and concrete actions.

Abidjan: a strategic hub for economic discourse

Abidjan has served as the permanent headquarters for the African Development Bank since 2014, following its temporary relocation to Tunis during a period of crisis in Côte d’Ivoire. The Ivorian economic capital has since solidified its position as a pivotal diplomatic and financial center across West Africa.

The successful staging of this conference further reinforces Abidjan’s strategic significance in continental economic discussions. Côte d’Ivoire, recognized as the leading economy within the West African Economic and Monetary Union, is actively pursuing robust infrastructure development and prioritizing the local processing of its raw materials, most notably cocoa.

Fostering intra-african trade and sovereign decision-making

A significant portion of the deliberations focused on accelerating trade among African nations, currently hampered by tariff barriers and inadequate infrastructure. Rather than aligning with external geopolitical blocs, participants advocated strongly for genuine economic decision-making sovereignty within Africa.

The conclusions, released on July 12 and 13, advocate for the construction of a resilient and prosperous Africa, one capable of wielding substantial influence in global trade negotiations. The newly formed African Chief Economists’ Network is poised to be an instrumental tool in transforming this ambition into coordinated, continent-wide policies.