King Letsie III Leads Lesotho Delegation at Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi with Focus on Agriculture, Innovation and Continental Growth

His Majesty King Letsie III is in Kenya to lead the delegation of the Kingdom of Lesotho at the Africa Forward Summit, held in Nairobi from 11 to 12 May 2026. The summit is jointly hosted by the Republic of Kenya and the Republic of France and brings together Heads of State and Government, business leaders, development partners, innovators, youth representatives and civil society actors. The main goal of the gathering is to strengthen Africa–France partnerships in areas such as innovation, economic growth and sustainable development. The summit provides a platform for African leaders to engage directly on shared priorities that shape the continent’s future. King Letsie III’s participation highlights Lesotho’s active role in continental diplomacy and development discussions.

The Africa Forward Summit is structured around high-level dialogues and practical engagements that aim to move beyond policy discussions into real implementation. It is taking place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, a key venue for regional and international conferences. The agenda includes critical themes such as agriculture, energy transition, artificial intelligence, health systems strengthening, blue economy development and reform of the international financial architecture. These discussions are designed to address long-standing structural challenges that affect African development. The presence of multiple Heads of State and senior leaders adds weight to the commitments expected from the summit.

A major highlight of the summit is the Roundtable on Agriculture, which His Majesty King Letsie III will co-host alongside the President of Mauritania. The session focuses on agricultural transformation, food sovereignty, climate resilience, innovation and sustainable financing for Africa’s agricultural future. Leaders and experts will explore how African countries can strengthen food production systems while adapting to climate change and improving rural livelihoods. The discussion also places emphasis on building value chains that support farmers from production to markets. This approach aims to shift African agriculture toward greater productivity, resilience and economic sustainability.

King Letsie III is expected to use this platform to strongly advocate for resilient food systems across the continent. His message will focus on nutrition-sensitive agriculture, youth empowerment and increased investment in climate-smart agricultural solutions. He is also expected to highlight the importance of innovation in modern farming, including the use of technology to improve yields and reduce post-harvest losses. Youth participation in agriculture remains a key priority, especially as many African economies seek to create employment opportunities in productive sectors. His contribution is expected to reinforce the need for long-term investment in sustainable food systems that benefit both rural and urban populations.

His participation in the Agriculture Roundtable further strengthens his continental leadership role in nutrition and human capital development. King Letsie III serves as the African Union Nutrition Champion and also as Champion for the African Leaders for Nutrition initiative. Through these roles, he has consistently advocated for improved nutrition outcomes, stronger health systems and integrated development strategies across Africa. His engagement at the summit links agriculture directly with health and nutrition outcomes, reinforcing the importance of addressing malnutrition through food system reform. This leadership position places Lesotho at the centre of continental discussions on human development and well-being.

The summit also covers broader strategic issues that are critical to Africa’s long-term development. These include peace and security, reform of the international financial system, energy transition and green industrialization, artificial intelligence and innovation, health system strengthening and blue economy development. Each of these themes reflects the urgency of building more resilient and inclusive economies across the continent. Leaders are expected to explore practical solutions that can unlock investment, improve governance and accelerate sustainable growth. The discussions also aim to strengthen Africa’s voice in global economic and policy systems.

Lesotho’s participation in the Africa Forward Summit reflects its continued commitment to Agenda 2063, the African Union’s blueprint for a prosperous, integrated and peaceful Africa. The Kingdom’s engagement demonstrates its support for equitable international partnerships and its willingness to contribute to shared continental solutions. It also reinforces Lesotho’s focus on resilience, sustainability and inclusive development. By taking part in high-level platforms such as this summit, Lesotho positions itself as an active contributor to Africa’s transformation agenda. The country’s priorities align closely with the summit’s focus on innovation, development and cooperation.

On the margins of the summit, King Letsie III is expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings with African leaders, African Union officials, development institutions and strategic international partners. These engagements will focus on strengthening cooperation in agriculture, nutrition, investment and sustainable development. They also provide an opportunity to deepen diplomatic ties and explore practical partnerships that support national and regional development goals. Such meetings are expected to complement the broader summit discussions by translating policy dialogue into actionable collaboration. The Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi therefore serves as both a high-level policy forum and a platform for meaningful diplomatic engagement across Africa and beyond.