French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday welcomed world leaders to the Élysée Palace for the opening of the 8th annual Paris Peace Forum, a two-day gathering aimed at building new global partnerships to tackle conflict, inequality, and climate change. This year’s event, held under the theme “New Coalitions for Peace, People and the Planet,” brings together more than 300 international leaders from governments, civil society, academia, and the private sector. Among the attendees are several African heads of state, including Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé, Ghana’s John Dramani Mahama, Liberia’s Joseph Boakai, and Democratic Republic of Congo’s Félix Tshisekedi. Their participation underscores Africa’s growing voice in global peace and sustainability dialogues.
A forum for dialogue amid global crises
The 2025 forum comes at a time of mounting international tension — from ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East to deepening instability across parts of Africa’s Sahel region. Macron, who launched the forum in 2018, described it as “a space for cooperation in an increasingly fragmented world.” Discussions will center on conflict prevention, peacebuilding, defending democracy and information integrity, and reforming global governance systems. Delegates will also examine how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence can be harnessed for peace and inclusive growth rather than division.
Focus on climate and children’s futures
A special session will mark the 10th anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement, with renewed calls for accountability and accelerated climate action ahead of COP30, set to take place next year in Belém, Brazil. Another key focus will be investing in children as drivers of development, highlighting education, health, and digital inclusion as priorities for sustainable progress. Since its inception, the Paris Peace Forum has positioned itself as a space for practical collaboration beyond traditional diplomacy — promoting what Macron calls “effective multilateralism through partnership, not polarization.”
