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France Co-Hosts Africa Forward Summit With Kenya in Nairobi
French President Emmanuel Macron joined Kenyan leaders to co-host the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi on Monday. Macron announced $27 billion in investments across Africa in energy transition, digital infrastructure, AI, maritime economy and agriculture. The summit marks the first time France has held such a meeting in an English-speaking African country.
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French President Emmanuel Macron is co-hosting the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi with Kenyan leaders. The two-day event began on Monday and brings together more than 30 African heads of state along with business leaders including Nigeria's Aliko Dangote.
Macron announced investments worth $27 billion in areas including energy transition, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, the maritime economy and agriculture. The investments are expected to create 250,000 jobs in Africa and in France. Macron told the audience at Nairobi's convention centre that African business leaders should also invest in France.
"Africa is succeeding. It's the youngest continent in the world… and needs investment to become more self-reliant," he said. The summit is the first of its kind to be held in English-speaking Kenya since France began such meetings in the 1970s. It aims to broaden Paris's partnerships on the continent.
Kenya's Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi described the location as a signal that engagements should not be based on official languages spoken in African countries. Mudavadi called the summit an opportunity for Africa to begin speaking as one. He said it was an opportune moment to break away from linguistic barriers that he described as artificial.
Kenya's government is seeking investment in infrastructure, renewable energy and technology.
The gathering reflects a change in how France approaches its relationships with African nations. For many years after independence in the 1960s, France maintained close economic, political and security ties with its former colonies. French presidents previously held regular summits with African leaders either in France or in French-speaking African countries.
