Stockholm Marks Africa Day 2026 with Landmark Two-Day Programme of Business and Culture

Stockholm hosted a landmark celebration of Africa Day 2026, as the Group of African Heads of Mission in Sweden, under the Deanship of the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda, brought together 22 African embassies, Nordic and African private sector actors, academia, financial institutions, and the African diaspora for the first-ever two-day programme combining a business seminar and a cultural celebration.

Marking the founding of the Organisation of African Unity on 25 May 1963, this year's commemoration moved beyond ceremony to deliver concrete engagement between Africa and the Nordic region, anchored by a Business Seminar on 28 May and a Cultural Event on 29 May.

Day One: Business Seminar Drives African-Nordic Synergies

Held at CMNTY in Stockholm under the theme “African-Nordic Synergies for Sustainable Growth,” the Business Seminar convened entrepreneurs, investors, trade officials, policymakers, export credit agencies, and diaspora innovators for an afternoon of keynote addresses, entrepreneurship stories, panel discussions, and facilitated business matchmaking.

Ms. Allen Sophia Asiimwe, Deputy CEO of TradeMark Africa, delivered the keynote address on unlocking barriers to Africa–Nordic trade and investment, while Johan Forssell, Sweden's Minister for Migration, addressed opportunities for deeper economic collaboration between Sweden and Africa as Guest of Honour.

A highlight of the day was a series of TED-style entrepreneurship stories featuring African and Nordic innovators, with Kabisa Electric Limited (Kabisa-EV) representing Rwanda alongside representatives from the Norrsken Foundation and Impact Connectors, who presented on the future of electric mobility. Rwandan innovation was further on display in the exhibition and business matchmaking rounds, where Igeno Finance and GoDiscover Safaris showcased their work in financial technology and African tourism, underscoring the depth and diversity of Rwanda's entrepreneurial ecosystem on the Nordic stage.

Interactive sector workshops and business matchmaking rounds were facilitated by H.E. Ambassador Karim Medrek, Deputy Dean and Ambassador of Morocco, with closing remarks delivered by H.E. Ambassador Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, Ambassador of Zimbabwe.

The Seminar was opened by H.E. Ambassador Dr. Diane Gashumba, Dean of the Group of African Heads of Mission in Sweden and Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the Nordic Countries, together with Mr. Amanias Abraha, Founder of CMNTY, and Mr. Carl Malmqvist, Vice-President of Business Sweden, and was moderated by Mr. Stanley Nyoni of Afrika Hub.

Day Two: A Celebration of Africa's Diversity

The Cultural Event, held at the Residence of the Embassy of Egypt in Stockholm, celebrated Africa's extraordinary diversity through a flag parade, traditional dance, cultural displays, and cuisine drawn from across the continent. The event was opened by H.E. Ambassador Nagla Naguib, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt, as host, and welcomed guests from the diplomatic community, the Nordic private and public sectors, the African diaspora, civil society, international organisations, and the public.

Africa Day 2026 was organized by the Group of African Heads of Mission in Sweden, comprising 22 African embassies represented in Stockholm — Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Congo (Brazzaville), Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe — under the Deanship of H.E. Ambassador Dr. Diane Gashumba, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the Nordic Countries, in partnership with Business Sweden, Impact Hub Stockholm, Afrika Hub, and CMNTY. The two-day format reflected the growing ambition of Africa–Nordic engagement, with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) providing the backdrop for dialogue on trade facilitation, digital trade, standards harmonization, SME participation, and the role of the African diaspora as innovators, investors, and bridges between the two regions.

“Africa Day 2026 in Stockholm marks a significant evolution in how African missions in the Nordic region observe this important occasion. The two-day format reflects the growing ambition of Africa–Nordic engagement and our shared commitment to combining cultural diplomacy with concrete economic collaboration.”

— H.E. Ambassador Dr. Diane Gashumba, Dean, Group of African Heads of Mission in Sweden