The African Renaissance Retreat: Africans Leading Africa

In September 2024, about 50 of Africa's most influential business and political leaders met behind closed doors in Kigali, Rwanda. The meeting was called the African Renaissance Retreat, and it was initiated by Aliko Dangote. Its idea is simple: Africa's own leaders must take responsibility for transforming the continent.

Two editions so far

• First edition — 6 to 8 September 2024, Kigali. Around 50 participants, including President Paul Kagame and leaders of Africa's largest industrial and financial companies. Topics included free movement of people, goods and services, financing Africa's development, and local production and value addition.
• Second edition — 14 to 16 November 2025, Kigali. Theme of day two: "Translating Ideas into Action". Participants included President Kagame, former presidents Thabo Mbeki, Olusegun Obasanjo and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.

What Dangote told the room

He reminded leaders that Africa holds about 30% of the world's mineral reserves, the largest reserves of several key minerals, a youthful population and abundant farmland and fresh water. He named the obstacles honestly — inconsistent policies, weak infrastructure, currency crises — and pointed to his own group, built across 14 African countries, as proof that it can be done. His message, in short: nobody will do it for us but us.

What the leaders agreed

1. Regular high-level dialogue between Africa's private sector and political leaders.
2. Support for ratifying the free movement of people protocol.
3. Initiatives to reduce logistics costs and widen internet access.
4. An African Renaissance Companies Gender Compact for equality in business.
5. Convening top global business leaders of African descent.

What it means for us

The Retreat works at the top. But its message is for everyone: some will do big things, some medium, some small. The Promised Continent exists for the medium and small — the students, workers, founders and families who will carry the same idea into daily life.

Sources: The New Times and AllAfrica (November 2025); Eastleigh Voice (September 2024); Arise TV and Capital Ethiopia (Dangote's speech and resolutions); UN Deputy Secretary-General schedule (November 2025).