DAVOS, Jan 19 – The World Economic Forum will resume hosting its Africa summit in South Africa in April 2027, ending a seven-year pause triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation said.
The meeting will be held either in Johannesburg or Cape Town, according to Chido Munyati, Head of Africa at the World Economic Forum, who disclosed the plans in an interview with CNBC Africa on the sidelines of the Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
The last WEF Africa meeting took place in Cape Town from September 4 to 6, 2019, before the pandemic forced the cancellation of most large-scale international gatherings and disrupted the Forum’s regional convenings.
The return of the Africa summit signals renewed global engagement with the continent at a time when African economies are navigating post-pandemic recovery, structural reforms, and shifting global trade and investment dynamics.
The Africa meetings typically bring together heads of state, business leaders, policymakers, and civil society actors to discuss economic growth, investment, governance, and regional integration. The 2027 summit is expected to play a key role in shaping Africa-focused conversations within the broader global economic agenda.
