Ethiopia's Prosperity Party has been unanimously chosen to lead the African Political Parties Initiative (APPI), according to ENA English. The decision was taken at the Second African Political Parties Summit, which is being held in Addis Ababa and was reported on Friday, November 6, 2026.
The unanimous vote gives the ruling party a larger role in political cooperation across the continent. Party leaders and representatives from a range of African countries took part in the summit, ENA English reports.
According to the outlet, those present pointed to the party's record in nation-building and economic transformation, along with its guiding philosophy of Medemer, which is commonly rendered as synergy, as reasons for the choice.
Why it matters
The election places Ethiopia's governing party at the center of an effort to strengthen political institutions across Africa. ENA English reports that the unanimous decision reflects widening recognition of the party's political and development experience, which participants see as a source of lessons for countries working to build stronger institutions, broaden participation in governance and speed up social and economic change.
The summit's host city has also drawn attention in recent days for its conference sector, with the Addis Media Network describing Addis Ababa as consolidating its standing as a leading destination for conferences in Africa.
Party official named to lead initiative's secretariat
In a related move, Bikila Hurisa, who heads the Prosperity Party's Political and Public Relations Sector and sits on its Council as a minister, was appointed Executive Secretary of the APPI Executive Secretariat, according to ENA English. In that role he will run the initiative's executive office and coordinate the rollout of its continental action plan.
The appointment puts an Ethiopian ruling party figure in charge of day-to-day work to deepen political cooperation and institutional capacity across the continent.
APPI functions as the executive arm of the African Political Parties Summit, turning decisions and shared positions taken by member parties into practical steps. ENA English reports that the initiative aims to help parties move beyond organizations that largely mobilize around election cycles and become lasting institutions that contribute continuously to development at home and across Africa.
Its stated priorities include strengthening political institutions, encouraging policy innovation and good governance, building leadership capacity, and supporting economic transformation through the exchange of knowledge and cooperation between countries.
Ethiopia's development record cited at summit
The Prosperity Party's selection and the appointment of its representative come as the summit enters its third and final day in Addis Ababa. ENA English reports that participants also acknowledged Ethiopia's development experience and the party's part in the country's ongoing transformation.
Separate reporting in Ethiopian media has highlighted the government's wider push on political training. EBC reported that Ethiopia has opened a leadership academy program to political parties from across Africa, and ENA English carried remarks describing Medemer as a holistic route to national prosperity and transformation.
The summit is expected to end with the adoption of the Addis Ababa Declaration, which ENA English says will set out shared positions and commitments on strengthening political institutions, deepening cooperation and advancing the continent's collective development goals.
What to watch: whether the declaration is adopted as expected and how quickly the APPI secretariat under Bikila Hurisa begins putting the action agenda into practice.
