Abidjan: African countries must act collectively to shape their own future in an increasingly multipolar world. This was the central message at the opening of the 2026 African Economic Conference (AEC) in Abidjan, C´te d'Ivoire, hosted at the headquarters of the African Development Bank Group under the theme: 'Strengthening Africa's Geopolitical Agency and Trade Resilience in a Multipolar World.'

According to Emirates News Agency, the conference is jointly organised by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This year's conference assembles leading economists, researchers, policymakers, and experts from regional and international development institutions from 10 to 12 July.

Urging participants to move from analysis to action, African Development Bank Group President Dr Sidi Ould Tah stressed the need for a new narrative centred on African agency and influence. He emphasized that past discussions on Africa often focused on dependency and vulnerability, but the focus now must shift to autonomy, resilience, competitiveness, and influence. Dr Ould Tah highlighted that Africa's geopolitical autonomy will be measured by its ability to negotiate from a position of strength and influence outcomes.

Amidst mounting global challenges, speakers at the conference underscored the urgent need to redefine international rules and arrangements to bolster Africa's strategic position and economic resilience. The goal is to enable the continent to seize opportunities emerging from a rapidly changing global order. Dr Ould Tah noted that this vision aligns with the strategic framework he has outlined through the Four Cardinal Points and the New African Financing Architecture for Development (NAFAD).

Throughout the three-day event, participants are engaging in rigorous analysis and evidence-based research to identify practical solutions to Africa's most pressing challenges. Discussions are focusing on strengthening the continent's financial agency, developing domestic capital markets, and addressing the impact of international tensions on African economies.