The first Africa-Atlantic Summit for Shared Development is scheduled to take place in Morocco in March 2026. The summit aims to establish a strategic platform for dialogue and collaboration among African countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean, the Sahel and Sahara regions, and their Mediterranean partners. The announcement was made on Thursday during the signing of a memorandum of understanding in Johannesburg between the Mediterranean Development Center (MEDEV) and Devac Invest Africa, a South African economic intelligence center dedicated to unlocking Africa's vast potential through strategic investments. The MoU to organize the summit was signed by Najib Somoue, President of MEDEV, and Richard Morake, Director of Devac Invest Africa, on the sidelines of the Africa Infrastructure Forum, held on May 14–15. This partnership, part of broader efforts to foster regional integration and transatlantic cooperation, highlights the pivotal role of multilateral platforms in strengthening South-South collaboration. It also underscores the potential of Atlantic African countries to contribute to building a more equitable and interconnected future. The upcoming summit reflects both centers' ambition to promote a renewed African development model rooted in innovation, inclusiveness, and both continental and international integration. Speaking to MAP, Najib Somoue explained that the Atlantic-African Summit for Joint Development will be guided by a shared vision centered on sustainable and inclusive growth. It will address key issues such as economic integration, green infrastructure, good governance, and digital transformation. "We also aim to engage all relevant stakeholders — from the public and private sectors to academia and civil society — to ensure the summit is inclusive and participatory, producing tangible and achievable outcomes," he added. Somoue also noted that a joint organizing committee will be formed to oversee preparations for the summit, including strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, resource mobilization, partnerships, logistics, and media coordination. The Africa Infrastructure Forum itself is an exclusive annual event that brings together private sector decision-makers, multinational executives, international investors, African government representatives, and key institutions to tackle the continent's infrastructure challenges. Through high-level conferences and exhibitions, the forum provides a platform for exchanging expertise, discussing innovative solutions, and forging strategic partnerships to drive infrastructure development across Africa.
