South Africa is under pressure, the influential G20 presidency ends in November 2025, US tariffs are intensifying the US-SA trade crisis, and our coalition government needs to navigate global pressures.
South African leaders including Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola, Deputy Minister Kenneth Morolong, G20 special advisor Mariana Mazzucato, British International Investment CEO Leslie Maasdorp, and Mukuru CEO Andy Jury will look for solutions at the Financial Times Africa Summit in London on 21-22 October 2025.
FT Africa Summit 2025 – a new vision for Africa in a changing world
The Financial Times has announced the 12th edition of its flagship FT Africa Summit.
Under the theme Africa in a Changing World, the summit will convene African heads of state, policymakers, CEOs, investors, and next-generation entrepreneurs to explore the continent’s global role in a period of geopolitical and economic uncertainty, and technological change.
This year’s high-level speaker line-up includes Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson, African Union Commission; David Moinina Sengeh, Chief Minister and the Chief Innovation Officer, Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone; Vera Daves de Sousa, Minister of Finance, Angola; Mohamed Mansour, Chairman, Infinity Power; and Mike Sangster, Senior Vice President Africa, TotalEnergies, alongside ministers and business leaders from South Africa, Angola, Nigeria, Egypt, Mauritius, Kenya, and Senegal.
The dramatic changes to America’s foreign policy in Donald Trump’s second term and his upending of the decades-old global trading system present challenges, uncertainties and risks for Africa as other outside powers intervene. The threat to Lesotho’s economy from tariffs underlines the potential peril for some African states. But there are also opportunities for the continent as America prioritises trade and investment over aid.
From policy shifts in Nigeria, Angola and South Africa to advances in fintech, AI and digital infrastructure, the 2025 summit will examine how African countries are embracing innovation and economic transformation. The summit will also spotlight Africa’s hoped-for transition to renewable energy and also industrial expansion, and the rising influence of youth-led entrepreneurship in shaping sustainable, inclusive growth.
The discussions will be facilitated by senior editors from the Financial Times and will feature insight-driven dialogue across geopolitics, tech, energy, infrastructure, trade, investment and finance.
FT Africa editor David Pilling said: “Now in its 12th year, the FT Africa Summit offers a vital platform to examine Africa’s role in a rapidly changing world. This year’s agenda brings together leaders and innovators to explore how African nations are approaching diplomacy, digital growth, and development priorities in bold new ways.”
FT foreign editor Alec Russell added: “South Africa’s hosting of the G20 summit in November underlines Africa’s elevated role on the global stage – but it also comes at the end of a testing year for the continent. The FT summit provides a forum for candid dialogue on Africa’s knotty geopolitical challenges and fresh thinking on the quest for investment and innovation.”
Hosted in London, the FT Africa Summit has become a key platform for debate and connection between Africa and the world offering direct access to international investors, development institutions, and a broad network of African and global stakeholders. It continues to serve as a valuable forum for conversation and exchange connecting perspectives from across the continent and beyond to help shape the global narrative around Africa’s future.
To register for a delegate pass visit africa.live.ft.com