politics
Macron Announces €23 Billion Investment Package at Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi
French President Emmanuel Macron walked uninvited onto the stage at the University of Nairobi on May 11, 2026, to rebuke noisy audience members during a youth panel at the Africa Forward Summit co-hosted with Kenyan President William Ruto. The French leader later announced €23 billion in investments focused on energy transition, digital infrastructure, AI, maritime economy and agriculture.
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French President Emmanuel Macron co-hosted the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi with Kenyan President William Ruto. The two-day event brought together more than 30 African heads of state, business executives and young entrepreneurs to discuss economic development, innovation and cooperation between Africa and Europe.
Among those attending were Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote and TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné.
During a youth forum on the first day, Macron rose from his seat, walked onto the stage and took the microphone. “Excuse me, everybody. Hey, hey, hey,” he said. “I’m sorry, guys. ” He added that bilateral meetings or conversations should take place in designated bilateral rooms or outside the hall.
The hall fell silent after the remarks, and sections of the audience applauded.
Later that day Macron announced €23 billion of investment commitments for Africa. The package includes €14 billion in private and public funds from French entities and €9 billion from African investors, directed at energy transition, digital and AI, the maritime economy and agriculture. Macron said the investments would create 250,000 direct jobs in France and Africa.
“We are not simply here to come and invest on the African continent alongside you – we need the great African business leaders to come and invest in France,” he told the audience at Nairobi’s convention center. Macron told students at the University of Nairobi that “Africa is succeeding” and argued the continent needs investment to strengthen its sovereignty rather than dependence on development aid.
He acknowledged France’s own financial constraints during the remarks.
Days before the summit, the French parliament passed a new landmark restitution law to expedite the return of looted artefacts to Africa. Kenyan President William Ruto, speaking at the same youth forum, defended Kenya’s Competency-Based Education reforms.
