French President Emmanuel Macron has called for increased investment in Africa as he co-hosted the Africa-Forward Summit in Nairobi alongside Kenyan President William Ruto, signaling a renewed French strategy focused on economic partnerships rather than traditional political influence. The summit, the first of its kind hosted in an English-speaking African country, reflects France’s effort to reshape relations with the continent through what Paris describes as a “partnership of equals” centered on trade, infrastructure, and private investment.
During the event, Macron announced several major French-backed projects in Kenya worth more than €1 billion. Among them is a €700 million commitment by shipping giant CMA CGM to renovate two terminals at the Port of Mombasa. Investment firm Meridiam also pledged $225 million to expand Kenya’s second-largest wind farm, alongside other infrastructure and development projects. Macron and Ruto signed 11 bilateral agreements covering transport modernization, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and plans linked to nuclear energy cooperation.
Speaking at the summit, President Ruto emphasized that African nations also have responsibilities in building balanced international partnerships. He said Kenya was seeking mutually beneficial cooperation based on shared interests rather than dependency, adding that the country would continue to pursue broad global partnerships without aligning exclusively with either Western or Eastern powers. The summit comes as France works to strengthen economic ties in Africa following setbacks to its political and military influence in parts of West Africa and the Sahel region in recent years.
