Macron courts Africa allies in Nairobi after Sahel setbacks

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Nairobi on Sunday for the Africa Forward Summit, the first edition of the France-Africa Summit to be held in an Anglophone country, co-hosted with Kenya and President William Ruto. The two-day conference, themed "Africa-France Partnership for Innovation and Growth," drew over 4,000 delegates from approximately 50 countries, including at least 30 heads of state and government, representing both Francophone nations such as Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and Chad, and Anglophone countries including Nigeria, Zambia, Botswana and Sierra Leone. The summit, held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, focuses on seven key themes: green industrialisation and energy, reform of global financial architecture, peace and security, blue economy, agriculture and food systems, and artificial intelligence and digital transformation. France is positioning the summit as an opportunity to reset its relationship with the African continent after facing significant setbacks in West Africa, where military coups have forced French troops to withdraw from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. French Ambassador to Kenya and Somalia Arnaud Suquet stated that Paris has "taken responsibility for past mistakes" and is "totally open to criticism," emphasizing a new partnership approach that is "mutually beneficial." Kenya's Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi described the summit as having the potential to reshape continental engagement, with preparations focused on ensuring African nations arrive "not as an observer, but as a co-architect of the agenda." Business France arranged approximately 800 bilateral meetings between French and African firms as part of the commercial programming. In April, Kenya approved with reservations a bilateral defence cooperation agreement with France that could see Paris establish a military training camp on Kenyan soil, with the stated purpose of boosting security for French overseas territories in the Indian Ocean and collaborating on maritime security. Over 100 civil society organisations from across Africa gathered in Nairobi the day before the summit for the Social Innovation Pavilion Summit, identifying 60 areas of focus to present to heads of state, including championing good governance, using African minerals for community autonomy, inclusive governance, and digital technology development. Macron is also meeting with 450 young people from across the continent and France to discuss ideas for Africa's future.