The African Leadership Forum (ALF) was conceived of in 2014 as a platform for eminent senior states persons together with senior leaders from across Africa to interact and share their experiences and insight on strategic challenges facing the continent. These dialogues especially address the leadership issues that are behind the implementation of solutions to Africa’s sustainable development challenges.

The ALF evolved from the 2013 ‘Shared Societies and Inclusive Sustainable Development in Africa’ symposium, held in Dar es Salaam by the World Leadership Alliance – Club de Madrid and UONGOZI Institute. Participants included the former African Presidents: H.E. Benjamin Mkapa (Tanzania), H.E. Festus Mogae (Botswana), and H.E. Olesegun Obasanjo (Nigeria). The meeting recognised that many of Africa’s challenges are unique to the continent and what was required was ‘African solutions to African problems’.

The symposium highlighted the value of convening a network of African former heads of state at a forum since they could share reflections of their experiences to provide current leaders with first-hand insight. They could also offer fresh perspective on current issues with the benefit of being retired from high office with more opportunity for reflection. The ALF arose to convene such a gathering while also fostering innovative ideas and responses to international, regional and national issues.

Between 2014 and 2019, six forums were held under the patronage of H.E. Mkapa, the third President of the United Republic of Tanzania, with his successor as head of state, Jakaya Kikwete, assuming this role after his death.