Unstoppable Africa 2026 Summit To Convene Business And Government Leaders In New York

More than 2,000 African and global business leaders and heads of state will converge on New York on September 20-21 for Unstoppable Africa, the flagship event of the Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI).

Now in its fifth edition, the summit has been convened by UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, and Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf. It is organised and coordinated by the UN Global Compact.

The event will be held on the sidelines of the opening of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, under the theme “Powering Business, Scaling Economies, Shaping the Future”.

Mobilising capital and forging partnerships

Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the United Nations Global Compact, Sanda Ojiambo, outlined the focus of this year’s gathering.

“This year, we are sharpening the focus on mobilising capital, forging partnerships, building businesses and turning Africa’s assets and opportunities into investable, scalable outcomes,” Ojiambo remarked.

“The ambition is not simply to shape how the world sees Africa, but to shape where global capital flows, where value is created and how Africa can capture it.”

A shifting global backdrop

The summit arrives at a time when global supply chains are being redrawn by geopolitical tension, energy insecurity and shifting trade rules.

For the African continent, these pressures present an opportunity to leverage its critical minerals, renewable energy potential, expanding consumer markets and young workforce to attract long-term capital and capture more value from global economic shifts.

The program will examine how Africa can retain more value from its critical minerals, strengthen infrastructure and trade, mobilise capital at scale and build more integrated and competitive markets.

Discussions will also explore Africa’s energy transition, the development and ownership of AI and digital infrastructure, the financing and global distribution of African creative industries, and how sport can function as an engine for investment, talent development and economic growth.

Five core themes

The five themes underpinning GABI and Unstoppable Africa are Energy, Digital Transformation, Trade, Creative Industries and Sport.

These will be supported by high-level plenaries, CEO and investor roundtables, ministerial dialogues, startup showcases and GABI Solutions Labs.

The 2026 edition is designed to create opportunities to spark transactions, develop investment vehicles and form cross-border alliances and partnerships.

Full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area could create a $3.4 trillion market, according to UNCTAD’s 2024 Economic Development in Africa Report, highlighting the scale of the opportunity as regional integration deepens.

Heads of state and industry leaders on the agenda

Confirmed speakers span government, finance, technology, creative industries and sport.

They include President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, H.E. Julius Maada Bio, and President of the Republic of Botswana, H.E. Duma Gideon Boko, alongside Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, H.E. Paula Ingabire.

From the business and finance sectors, the lineup features President and CEO of the African Finance Corporation, Samaila Zubairu; Chairperson of Anglo American South Africa, Nolitha Fakude; and General Partner of the Allied Critical Minerals Fund, Tidjane Thiam.

CEO and Executive Director of Naspers, Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, and CEO of Flutterwave, Olugbenga Agboola, are also on the speaker list, along with Senior Advisor to the President of the United States on Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos.

The sports contingent includes former NBA All-Star and President of the South Sudan Basketball Federation, Luol Deng, and CEO of NBA Africa, Clare Akamanzi.

Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed, and CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, Damilola Ogunbiyi, will also participate.

From the creative industries, speakers include CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival, Cameron Bailey, filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu, and Founder and CEO of the Next Narrative Africa Fund, Akunna Cook.

Hosts and media coverage

The event will once again be hosted by Senior News Anchor at Al Jazeera Media Network, Folly Bah Thibault, and International Correspondent at CNN, Larry Madowo. It will also spotlight more than 500 nominees in the Unstoppable Africans campaign.

Media partners include African Business/New African, African Renewal, Afrique Media, AllAfrica, Arise News, Business Digest Magazine, Citizen TV, EIB Network, Envoy Magazine, The Kenyan Wall Street, News Central TV, SDG News, The Africa Report, The Nation Media Group and TIME Africa.

Unstoppable Africa 2026 will take place at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square, New York City. Accredited media and other eligible communication professionals can register at https://apo-opa.co/4xvM3xh.

Last Updated on September 3, 2026 by Nick Ross