As the spotlights faded in the Sofitel ballroom, one truth burned brighter than any stage light: Africa’s next decade won’t be a footnote in someone else’s ledger—it will be the headline of a story the continent is finally writing for itself.
By Philip Mwangangi
In Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, a bold new vision for Africa’s economic future is taking shape. At the 2025 Africa CEO Forum, over 2,000 leaders from business, government, and finance converged to answer a crucial question: How can Africa strike a new deal between the state and the private sector to drive resilient, inclusive growth in an era of global uncertainty?
Themed “It’s time to strike a new deal with the African private sector,” the forum, jointly hosted by Jeune Afrique Media Group and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), provided a strategic platform for dialogue, action, and investment. High-level participation, including presidents, CEOs, and multilateral agency heads, underlined the urgency and ambition of the moment.
The challenge: A fragmented, dependent growth model
With global geopolitics in flux, value chains shifting, and economic nationalism on the rise, Africa finds itself at a crossroads. For decades, much of its development strategy has relied on external aid, donor-led policies, and extractive trade relationships. As Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame aptly stated during the presidential panel:
“We can’t keep depending on what others are saying or doing about us… We must be able to do what we ought to do.”
Kagame and fellow leaders, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, and Ivorian Vice President Tiémoko Meyliet Koné, made the case for African self-reliance, long-term planning, and cooperation over dependency and short-term reactionary policies.
Their rallying call? Africa must become sovereign, resilient, and competitive.
The solution: A new growth pact
At the heart of the Forum was a shared commitment: rethink the role of the private sector. Leaders called for a recalibrated relationship between governments and businesses—one that recognizes private enterprise as a co-pilot in development, not just a passenger.
“The private sector must be the locomotive of economic development,” declared Mauritania’s President Ghazouani.
But this shift demands political will. Ghazouani emphasized that states must create legal security for investments, reform outdated frameworks, and improve infrastructure and human capital. Mauritania is already walking the talk; with new investment laws, electricity codes, and reforms to boost investor confidence.
Pillars of transformation: From AI to industrialisation
The Forum’s packed agenda went beyond rhetoric, delving into tangible areas for action:
- Artificial Intelligence: AI presents opportunities to leapfrog development stages—but only if African countries build the right data governance, skills, and digital infrastructure.
- Industrialization: Rather than exporting raw materials, African countries must invest in value-added manufacturing and intra-African trade—particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
- Regional Integration: Leaders reaffirmed the importance of cooperation—echoing Ramaphosa’s reminder that “African problems require African solutions.”
Panelists like Orange CEO Christel Heydemann, Access Holdings Chair Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, and MSC CEO Soren Toft offered private sector perspectives on scaling innovation, finance, and logistics for sustainable development.
Investment in action: Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea in focus
Dedicated “Invest in…” sessions gave investors hands-on exposure to opportunities in high-growth markets like Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea. These sessions underscored the real-time transformation happening on the ground, from energy and transport to fintech and agribusiness.
With Africa now attracting increased attention as a frontier of opportunity, especially amidst global efforts to diversify supply chains, this year’s forum made clear: Africa is open for business on African terms.
Political vision, private innovation
The Forum’s highlight was the Africa CEO Forum Awards, which celebrated innovation, inclusion, and economic impact across the continent. Beyond applause and accolades, they represented something deeper: proof that African leadership, when enabled, can drive solutions to Africa’s toughest challenges.
One such challenge is peace. President Ramaphosa referenced continental peacebuilding efforts in places like the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, emphasising that Africa must own its processes, even when international partners support them.
“We are in charge of the future of this continent,” Ramaphosa said. “We must build peace ourselves because we live on this continent.”
What’s next: From forum to framework
As the Forum concluded, attention turned to the upcoming election of the African Development Bank (AfDB) president—a symbolic reminder of the high stakes in shaping African development from within.
The Forum’s outcomes point to a solutions-based agenda:
- Rebalance power and trust between governments and private sector actors.
- Invest in industrial capacity, technology, and human capital.
- Localize growth strategies and adapt global trends to African realities.
- Collaborate across borders and sectors to accelerate integration.
- Act on long-discussed potential—turning talk into transformation.
Final word
In a world of shifting power dynamics, Africa is beginning to write its own rules—one investment, one reform, one partnership at a time. The Africa CEO Forum 2025 may be remembered not just as a conference, but as a turning point: when business leaders and political figures came together, not just to talk, but to forge a new social contract for African growth.
The continent’s future will not be dictated from abroad. As Kagame warned, “We should have been building up the momentum… and there are many opportunities.” The time to seize them is now.
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