Kenya will make history as the first non-Francophone African nation to host the Africa-France Summit in 2026. The Africa Forward Summit, with the theme “Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth”, is a gathering of heads of state and government to be held between 11 and 12 May in Nairobi.
The Summit is co-hosted by President William Ruto of the Republic of Kenya and Emmanuel Macron, President of France. The Summit aims to demonstrate the African continent’s innovation capacity and affirm a shared commitment to developing common, mutually beneficial solutions based on effective multilateralism and a spirit of transformative partnership. Announcing the Summit during the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York, Ruto and Macron broke tradition by selecting Nairobi as the venue for the event, which had previously been held exclusively in France or Francophone African countries since its inception in 1973.
The decision to shift the summit to Kenya signals a bold move for France, reflecting both countries’ commitment to addressing global challenges with fresh perspectives. It also elevates Kenya’s status as a diplomatic and environmental leader in Africa.
Clearly, Africa, a continent rich in resources and burgeoning with potential, is increasingly gaining recognition as a vital player in the global economic landscape. It is a land of immense opportunity that is gradually breaking free from the shackles of its historical narrative, ready to embrace a brighter, more prosperous future.
Shared prosperity
Over the years, the discourse around Africa and the developed world has been one of an unbalanced power dynamic, coloured by the legacy of colonialism and imperialism. However, as we strive for a more interconnected and equitable global economy, it’s crucial to learn from the past while focusing on crafting a narrative of mutual benefit and shared prosperity. According to the April 2026 edition of the World Economic Outlook of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), growth in Africa is expected to be relatively stable at 4.3% in 2026 and 4.4% in 2027. This masks variation across countries, with some in the region – particularly oil-importing non-resource-intensive countries – adversely affected by the Middle East conflict. Key economies continue to benefit from past macroeconomic stabilisation and reform.
On the other hand, France has trimmed its 2026 growth forecast slightly and hiked its inflation estimate to reflect the fallout from the conflict in the Middle East. The euro zone’s second biggest economy is now expected to grow 0.9% this year instead of the 1.0% expected previously, while inflation is projected to average 1.9% instead of 1.3%, mainly due to higher energy import prices, the finance ministry said.
Finance Minister Roland Lescure said the current crisis would have a “modest impact” on growth, citing momentum carried over from last year, while inflationary effects would be “limited” thanks to France’s heavy reliance on nuclear power. The ministry said its projections assume oil prices will remain at $100 a barrel until the end of May before gradually easing.
The Africa-France relationship has historically been characterised by France’s deep historical, linguistic, economic and political ties with its former sub-Saharan African colonies.
In 2017, France announced a shift to a more balanced and mutual political, economic and cultural partnership not only with its former colonies, but also with all African countries. The move was motivated by Paris’ perception that many global challenges with implications for France, notably climate change; demography; terrorism; economic development and health, are concentrated in Africa. President Macron made seven visits to Africa out of the 22 countries he visited in his first months as president in 2017.
Macron also sought to engage with countries where France was traditionally less present, such as Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. Regarding bilateral development cooperation, France sought to change policies towards intensified economic relations with Africa, from a logic of aid to a logic of solidarity investments and partnerships. This is the genesis of the Business Forum, arguably the most significant element of the meetings.
Win-win for France and Africa?
The aim is to transition the partnership from the traditional donor-recipient model to a more transformative win-win partnership.
At the international level, France pushed for more financial support to developing countries during the Covid-19 crisis and to enable an equitable recovery, whether through debt cancellation via the Paris Club or debt suspension through the G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI). France has also tried to lead the move towards recycling $100bn in IMF Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) from richer to poorer countries. Progress has been slow, with some major players not fully backing the initiative. From 2022-2025, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, the Central African Republic, Ivory Coast and Senegal, terminated their defence agreements with France following decades of military presence and interventions.
Currently, Djibouti and Gabon are the only African countries where France retains forces. These are in smaller numbers and more focused on training than their previous security roles – signifying France’s declining influence in its former colonies. African countries that were traditionally aligned with France are increasingly shifting their military partnership towards Russia, Turkey and China.
Subsequently, there is a notable transformation of military cooperation from a heavy military footprint to fewer bases and more academies, placing training and support at the centre of its military cooperation to assist with capacity-building for African armies. Waning influence in the Sahel region notwithstanding, France remains a significant economic partner for many African nations, amid the shifting global geopolitical landscape.
France, under Macron, has engaged actively in advocating a greater EU focus on Africa. For instance, during the Covid-19 crisis Macron pressed the EU to share more vaccines with Africa and to waive patents for vaccines, albeit with limited success. In 2025, Macron aligned with the African Union’s position on recognising Palestine.
A strategic Africa-France partnership would have France play a leading role at the EU and the global stage by advocating for Africa’s agenda in these fora; that is, defending Africa’s common positions on key issues such as climate change, representation at the global stage, sustainable financing of Africa and support of Africa-led peace operations in Africa.
For Kenya, hosting the summit is an opportunity to showcase its growing geopolitical influence and assert its leadership in climate diplomacy, reinforcing its place on the global stage.
Beyond the symbolism, the summit presents a defining moment to interrogate the future of Africa-France relations. Issues such as how partnerships are structured, who drives the agenda and whether they truly deliver shared value would all be in focus. In addition, it opens the door to a deeper conversation on investment, innovation and sovereignty, and why this gathering matters not just for Kenya or France, but for Africa’s evolving place in a rapidly changing global order.
The Africa Forward Summit is expected to illustrate the rich and dynamic relations between the African continent and France through the diversity of participants, which include states, business leaders, young people, artists, civil societies and diasporas. It will be an opportunity to highlight the commitment of France, Kenya and other African countries to stepping up mutual investment and to building and financing tangible solutions, including health system strengthening, food sovereignty, digital competitiveness, energy access and connectivity.
The Summit will focus on critical global issues, including the reform of international financial institutions and concerted action on climate change. It is seen as part of that reset – an attempt to reposition France as a partner in innovation and sustainable development rather than a traditional power broker. The timing is also significant as it feeds into preparations for the upcoming G7 Summit, where Africa’s economic future, climate challenges and development financing are expected to dominate discussions.
Tangible outcomes
The Nairobi meeting could serve as a testing ground for how Africa and its international partners engage moving forward – shifting from aid-driven relationships to investment-led cooperation.
In the final analysis, the true test of the Africa Forward Summit lies in the tangible outcomes it will deliver. Africa is demanding equity, investment and respect. For France, this is an opportunity to reset its engagement on terms that reflect today’s realities and for it is a moment to assert leadership and demonstrate that Africa can convene, shape and drive global conversations on its own terms.
If this summit succeeds, it could mark the beginning of a new chapter in Africa-France relations that is grounded in mutual interest and shared prosperity.