GNV News, 13 May 2026

From 11 to 12 May, a France–Africa summit named “Africa Forward” was held in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Heads of state and government from more than 30 countries gathered for the summit. Together with representatives from the African Union (AU), financial institutions, and the development sector, they discussed themes such as the energy transition, peace and security, and reform of the international financial system.

Since the summit’s launch in 1973, this is the first time it has been held in a non-Francophone African country. At this summit, France is said to have aimed to strengthen its relations with non-Francophone countries, particularly in East Africa.

In the background lies a decline in France’s influence in Francophone regions. For decades, France has used policies known as “Françafrique” in its former colonies to maintain political, economic, and military influence. However, in Francophone West and Central Africa, there has been growing backlash against French influence and interference, and relations have deteriorated as countries assert their sovereignty. In West Africa, especially the Sahel region, military juntas have expelled the French armed forces. In their place, cooperation with Russian forces has deepened in recent years. China, meanwhile, remains firmly entrenched across the continent through infrastructure projects, mining development, and other initiatives. By contrast, France’s comparative advantages are more limited, largely confined to areas such as business networks, technical expertise, education, culture, and access to European markets.

Amid these circumstances, French President Emmanuel Macron announced in a speech that France would invest US$27 billion in Africa in fields such as the energy transition, digital technology and AI, and the ocean economy . France is seeking a new relationship with Africa, driven not only by defense and security considerations but also by strong economic motives, including rising concerns over global supply chains and maritime security.

However, in some countries there is public opposition to strengthening ties with France. Kenya is one such example. President William Ruto of Kenya, which is also the host nation of the summit, is said to be willing to welcome France in exchange for security assistance and international recognition. At the same time, Kenyan citizens opposing agreements with France have raised objections, and it is likely that debate and resistance in public opinion across African countries will be unavoidable.

Learn more about France and African countries → “Gabon holds its first election since the coup”

Learn more about the French armed forces → “Chad announces an end to its military cooperation with France”

Learn more about Kenya → “Anti-government protests spread across Kenya, sparking international concern over police violence”

Scene from the Africa–France summit (Photo: Paul Kagame / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0])