Advertisement Civil Society Groups Push for Transparency at Africa Forward Summit 2026Leaders Gather as Civil Society Raises ConcernsThe recently concluded Africa Forward Summit 2026 brought together Heads of State, investors, policymakers, and business leaders to discuss AfricaFrance partnerships for innovation and growth.However, several civil society representatives said the summit failed to include key voices from across the continent.Dr. Wafa Misrar from Climate Action Network Africa in Morocco said organizers involved civil society groups too late in the process.We can engage civil society at an early stage. Unfortunately, for this summit, civil society was not engaged at all, she said.Misrar explained that many organizations wanted to build partnerships with African governments and stakeholders attending the summit. They also hoped to develop a common position on issues affecting the continent.However, organizers released the agenda late and restricted access to some meeting rooms. Misrar said this prevented civil society groups from planning effectively.As civil society, we wanted to work together and have one common voice, but we could not do that because we did not have the agenda in advance, she said.She urged organizers to involve civil society earlier in future editions of the summit.If there is another edition in the future, please let us know in advance so we can plan together and make peoples voices heard, she added.Calls Grow for Openness and AccountabilityGillian Hamilton from The Green Connection in South Africa also criticized the limited access to discussions during the summit.We are concerned about the lack of transparency and the lack of access to the rooms, Hamilton said.She argued that discussions about Africas financial systems and economic partnerships affect millions of Africans. For that reason, she said leaders should hold such conversations openly.These are topics that impact all Africans and should have been discussed more openly, she noted.Hamilton also questioned some of the partnerships discussed during the summit. She warned African governments to remain cautious when negotiating deals involving natural resources and critical minerals.The resource curse is very real in Africa, she said. We need governments to show good governance and make public the deals being signed on behalf of citizens.She added that more civil society organizations should have participated in the discussions.What would have meant a lot more is if more civil society organizations could have contributed toward the discussions taking place, she said.Leaders Gather as Civil Society Raises ConcernsClimate Action Remains Central to DevelopmentMisrar also stressed the need to place climate action at the center of Africas development agenda. She argued that African countries cannot achieve sustainable growth without addressing climate change.When we speak about climate, some people think climate is not part of development. But if you are not tackling climate, you are not going to be developing, she said.She called for more climate financing and stronger investment in clean energy solutions across the continent.Misrar also highlighted the impact of fossil fuels on African women, especially those who cook daily using unsafe energy sources.In Africa, women are mainly affected by fossil fuels used for cooking every single day. This affects health and livelihoods, she explained.She emphasized that civil society groups represent communities whose voices often remain unheard in major policy discussions.When I speak of civil society, I speak on behalf of women, youth, farmers, and people with disabilities. Together we can be stronger, she said.Questions Emerge Over AfricaFrance PartnershipsAnthony Ombara of Resilient Action Network Africa described the summit as timely and necessary. However, he questioned Frances renewed engagement with Anglophone African countries.Our fear is: what is in this conversation, and why this new alliance with Anglophone countries? he asked.Ombara referred to ongoing instability in parts of West Africa, including conflicts in the Sahel region and recent coups. He said these developments make transparency even more important.He also questioned why Kenya had become a key entry point for the discussions.We do not know what deals were being sealed and what commitments governments are making on behalf of citizens, he said.According to Ombara, organizers excluded civil society groups from important business and policy discussions. He said this weakened trust in the summit.The deliberate exclusion of civil society organizations who could have questioned some of these engagements puts the partnership on a bad note, he said.Despite the criticism, the summit highlighted Africas growing importance in global economic and political discussions. Still, civil society groups insisted that future forums must prioritize inclusivity, openness, and accountability.For many organizations attending the summit, one message stood out clearly: Africas future should not be shaped behind closed doors.Read More onThe post Civil Society Groups Push for Transparency at Africa Forward Summit appeared first on Africa Business News.