Libya to host 2026 African-Turkish Summit, solidifying its role in Africa’s future

The African Union has announced that Libya will host the 2026 African-Turkish Summit.

This decision was made during the 38th African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from February 15-16, as stated by Libya's Presidential Council, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

According to the statement, “This decision is the result of the diplomatic efforts made by the Libyan delegation during the summit, led by Libyan Presidential Council head Mohamed al-Menfi.” It emphasizes the significance of Libya hosting the event as part of its efforts to restore its leadership and active role in Africa, following its key contributions to expanding economic, political, and sustainable development cooperation.

The statement further highlighted that hosting the summit marks renewed international recognition of Libya's potential and its critical role in advancing dialogue and strategic cooperation between Africa and key global players, promoting shared interests, and fostering more effective partnerships for the continent’s objectives. 

The African Union, comprising 55 nations and founded in 2002 to replace the Organization of African Unity (OAU), focuses on promoting integration and establishing a common market among its members. In recent years, three African-Turkish partnership summits have been held: in Istanbul in 2008, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea in 2014, and again in Istanbul in 2021. The first two ministerial meetings were held in Istanbul in 2011 and 2018, discussing the progress in relations between Türkiye and the African Union and reviewing the action plans established during the summit meetings.

By Naila Huseynova