The Malabo turning point

In my capacity as Secretary General of the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS), I have the honor of addressing you as we approach the 11th Summit of Heads of State and Government, to be held on March 27-29, 2026, in Malabo, Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

This Summit is of major historical significance, as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of our Organization, which was founded in 1975 under the name ACP and became OEACP following the signing of the Georgetown Agreement in 2020. Beyond its commemorative dimension, the Malabo Summit is a turning point for our alliance. It takes place in a profoundly reconfigured international context, marked by geopolitical, economic, climatic, and technological changes of unprecedented magnitude, which are accelerating and often unpredictable.

Under the theme"A transformed and renewed OEACP in a changing world," this high-level meeting will bring together the leaders of our 79 member states. Together, we will have the responsibility of redefining the foundations of our collective action through an ambitious roadmap that is commensurate with the contemporary challenges and legitimate aspirations of our peoples.

Fifty years after its creation, the OEACP is set to embark on a new stage in its evolution. The Malabo Summit cannot be merely a symbolic milestone: it must mark a strategic overhaul of the Organization, strengthening its relevance, its capacity for initiative, and its positioning on the international stage, in the service of the interests of its Member States and their populations.

It is in this spirit that I would like to present the main issues at stake at this Summit, in light of my strategic vision for the future of the OEACP and its role in building a more inclusive, equitable, and effective multilateralism.

1. Fifty years of heritage: a foundation for renewal

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States, the Malabo Summit has a dual purpose: to pay tribute to a collective heritage and to resolutely commit to a process of renewal.

Since its creation in 1975, the OEACP has embodied a unique alliance, now bringing together 79 member states and nearly 1.2 billion inhabitants across three continents. Born out of post-colonial history, the Organization was built around shared ambitions: promoting sustainable development, advocating for fairer trade, and strengthening international cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of the Global South. Since taking office in March 2025, I have been committed to consolidating this legacy and preserving its fundamental achievements.

In an international environment marked by persistent climate crises, worsening economic inequalities, and renewed geopolitical tensions, the Malabo Summit is intended to be both a time to recognize the progress made and a founding moment for strategic renewal. Theinstitutional reform PACT, which I have been promoting since March 2025, aims precisely to strengthen the transparency, accountability, and effectiveness of the Organization's governance.

As the official representative of 79 countries in the Global South, I see this anniversary as a catalyst for transformation and a lever for strategic repositioning, intended to affirm the OEACP as a central player in inclusive multilateralism, based on mutual trust and collective action. Without such a transformation, the Organization would face a real risk of marginalization in an international order marked by asymmetrical power relations.

2. Diplomacy and influence: asserting the voice of the Global South

Strengthening the diplomatic dimension of the OEACP is at the heart of the issues addressed at the Malabo Summit. The 79 member states—spanning Africa (48 countries), the Caribbean (16), and the Pacific (15)—are a deeply diverse group in terms of their cultures, histories, and geographical realities, but they are united by common strategic interests.

The Summit will focus in particular on deepening political coordination with the African Union and strengthening strategic partnerships with regional and international organizations, with the aim of increasing the collective influence of the OECS on major issues such as peace, security, and global governance.

The implementation of the Samoa Agreement, which succeeds the Cotonou Agreement, will be a key focus of discussions. Concluded with the European Union, this agreement goes beyond the purely commercial framework: it is a structuring instrument for a balanced partnership based on reciprocity, mutual respect, and the joint development of development policies.

As Secretary General, I advocate proactive and inclusive diplomacy, promoting South-South cooperation while reaffirming the importance of open multilateralism and dialogue with all international partners. In this regard, the Malabo Summit is of strategic importance: it will enable our supreme body to set clear guidelines, enhance the visibility of collective action, and consolidate trust among Member States through governance based on transparency and clear objectives.

3. Economy and development: promoting inclusive and sustainable growth

On the economic front, the Malabo Summit will address the need to overhaul member states' growth models in order to strengthen intraregional trade, reduce structural vulnerabilities, and address persistent inequalities, which have been exacerbated by successive global economic shocks.

Discussions will focus in particular on the structural transformation of OEACP economies, notably through digital transition, which is seen as a strategic lever for improving member states' positioning in regional and global value chains. This approach is part of a roadmap aimed at stimulating innovation, productivity, and economic integration.

The Summit will also highlight the imperative for more ambitious and diversified development financing, going beyond official development assistance, in order to mobilize sustainable private investment in key sectors such as infrastructure, green energy, education, and skills development.

In this context, the Business Summit, chaired by His Excellency the President of the Gabonese Republic, Brice Oligui Nguema, will illustrate the OEACP's desire to strengthen strategic dialogue and partnerships with the private sector.

The stakes are high: without strong and inclusive economic alliances, the 1.2 billion inhabitants of the OEACP would remain exposed to fluctuations in global markets. The Malabo Summit thus aims to mark the transition from a logic of assistance to a dynamic of inclusive growth, driven by investment, entrepreneurship, and the creation of sustainable opportunities, with a view to reducing poverty and promoting shared prosperity.

4. Climate and sustainable development: a collective response to an existential challenge

Climate change is now an existential challenge for many of our member states, particularly the small island developing states (SIDS) in the Pacific and Caribbean, which are seriously threatened by rising sea levels, and the Sahelian regions of Africa, which face desertification and climate insecurity.

In Malabo, Heads of State and Government will examine concrete adaptation and resilience strategies aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and tailored to the specific realities of the most vulnerable territories. The Small Island States Forum, chaired by His Excellency James Marape, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, will highlight these particular vulnerabilities and the responses to them.

The Summit also aims to strengthen the OEACP's collective advocacy for climate justice by calling for increased mobilization of international financial resources dedicated to adaptation, resilience, and ecological transition. The Organization's member states are disproportionately affected by global warming, for which they are not primarily responsible, giving their collective action strong moral and political legitimacy on the international stage.

5. A decisive summit for the future of the OEACP

The 11th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the OECS cannot be viewed as a mere formality. It represents a decisive moment for the affirmation of a united, credible, and influential organization capable of exerting lasting influence within the architecture of contemporary multilateralism.

The decisions taken in Malabo will shape the contours of a renewed OEACP, based on trust, solidarity, and collective action, and resolutely focused on the future. As it celebrates fifty years of existence, this Summit aims to propel the Organization into a new phase of its history, working toward a more equitable world in which the peoples of its member states can prosper sustainably.

Join us in this historic transformation.