Africa Forward Summit adopts Nairobi Declaration on France ties

Leaders from across Africa and Europe gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, for the Africa Forward Summit on May 11-12, 2026, an event co-chaired by Kenyan President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron. The summit, which brought together approximately 30 heads of state, over 1,500 business executives, and other stakeholders, concluded with the adoption of the Nairobi Declaration, an ambitious roadmap aimed at reshaping economic ties between Africa and France.

A central theme of the gathering was a deliberate shift away from traditional aid-based relationships toward partnerships grounded in sovereign equality and mutual economic benefit. President Ruto stated that enduring partnerships must be built not on dependency, but on sovereign equality, and not on aid, but on mutually beneficial investments. The summit was designed as an implementation-focused platform, prioritizing bankable investment opportunities and public-private partnerships.

A major announcement came from President Macron, who unveiled over 23 billion euros in new investments for Africa, targeting sectors including renewable energy, artificial intelligence, digital technologies, agriculture, and...