France, Kenya Sign 11 Investment Deals as Macron Opens Africa Summit Visit
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · May 10
France, Kenya Sign 11 Investment Deals as Macron Opens Africa Summit Visit
10 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · May 10
Eleven France-Kenya agreements were signed in Nairobi on Sunday, covering a nuclear power project, transport upgrades and sustainable agriculture as Emmanuel Macron began his Kenya visit.
Macron cast the investments as support for Africa’s “human capital” ahead of the two-day Africa Forward Summit, where France is promoting a new continent policy based on partnership rather than dominance.
Thirty heads of state are expected at the summit starting Monday, though only 10 had arrived by Sunday; it is the first time the gathering is being held in an Anglophone country.
The event comes after France completed its troop withdrawal from West Africa last year amid declining regional influence, while Kenya’s opposition criticized Nairobi as an unsuitable host over democracy and rights concerns.
Can France's pivot to Kenya succeed while the Sahel, the region it just left, descends further into chaos?
As Macron courts new African allies, is his 'partnership of equals' a real policy shift or just a rebrand?
Are billion-dollar deals with France a true turning point for Kenya or a modern form of neo-colonial dependence?
Africa Forward Summit 2026: 11 Major Kenya–France Deals Signal Shift Toward Innovation, Green Growth, and Inclusive Development
Overview
The Africa Forward Summit, held in Nairobi, Kenya on May 11-12, 2026, marks a significant milestone in international relations as the first Africa-France summit hosted in a non-Francophone African country. Co-hosted by Kenya and France and co-chaired by Presidents William Ruto and Emmanuel Macron, the summit brings together leaders to focus on seven key pillars aimed at promoting sustainable development and prosperity across Africa. The agenda features in-depth discussions on topics such as green industry, healthcare production, maritime resource management, and regional security cooperation, highlighting a collaborative approach to Africa’s future.