In a world of shifting alliances and great power competition, Africa is no longer content to be a passive player. This panel examines how African nations and leaders are designing partnerships on their own terms — balancing relationships with traditional Western allies, China, and emerging partners — to maximize the continent's strategic interests and economic sovereignty.

Africa holds a disproportionate share of the world's critical minerals essential for the global energy transition, from cobalt and lithium to rare earth elements. This panel examines how African nations can leverage their mineral wealth strategically — ensuring equitable partnerships, local value addition, and sovereign control over resources that will shape the global economy for decades to come.

This inter-ministerial panel explores how Uganda is navigating the path from potential to execution, examining the role of government leadership in driving innovation, technology, and economic transformation. Featuring senior government officials, the session offers insights into how African nations can build institutional capacity and strategic partnerships to accelerate development.

Africa's creative economy is surging, driven by a new generation of artists, designers, and cultural entrepreneurs who are building communities and platforms that amplify African creativity on the global stage. This panel brings together leading creatives to discuss how they are building sustainable careers, fostering creative communities, and ensuring that African voices shape the future of global culture.