France eyes Africa reset as Nairobi hosts landmark summit

The inaugural France–Africa Summit will mark a reset of Paris’s engagement, shifting from traditional narratives to a forward-looking partnership, Ambassador Arnaud Suquet has said.

 The French ambassador to Kenya said the Africa Forward Summit, to be held in an Anglophone country, reflects a deliberate effort by Paris to “refresh” its relationship with Africa, moving away from historical baggage and outdated perceptions.

 Suquet spoke during a joint editors’ briefing on the conference alongside Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’Oei.

 “We want a relationship that does not look back—one that is not based on pre-written narratives about Africa as a risky or difficult place to invest. Instead, we must project Africa’s agency, its assets and its opportunities,” the envoy said.

 The summit will be held on May 11–12 under the theme Africa–France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth.

 Responding to a question on whether the summit signals a shift in France’s focus from West Africa to Eastern Africa, Suquet said the forum will adopt a one-Africa approach, even in the composition of high-level delegations.

 “We are not moving from West Africa to East Africa. It is not at the expense of any region. We are seeking a continental outlook in our partnership. The priorities and themes of the summit are more about socio-economic development,” the ambassador said.

 He said France and Europe are reliable partners without radical “U-turns”.

 France, the envoy noted, remains a major economic partner, ranking among the top investors on the continent, with over 100 French companies operating across Africa.

 The summit, he added, will focus on building new partnerships anchored in investment, innovation and people-to-people engagement.

 “This is not a summit about abstract solutions. It is about sitting together—across political, business and civil society levels—to imagine a shared future,” he said.

 Key areas of focus will include artificial intelligence, the blue economy, green industrialisation, financing, agriculture and digital transformation.

 PS Sing’Oei described the summit as a critical moment to align African and European priorities in a changing global order.

 “We are fully aligned with the objective of building a new partnership that reflects today’s realities,” he said.

 Sing’Oei said the summit will help consolidate African positions ahead of major global platforms, including the G7 and G20, where issues such as institutional reform and greater African representation are expected to feature prominently.

 The PS also pointed to the significance of hosting the summit in an Anglophone African country for the first time. He said it underscores efforts to broaden engagement beyond traditional Francophone spheres.

 Beyond diplomacy, both sides emphasised the role of business and youth in shaping the future relationship.

 The French envoy said the summit will feature a major business forum bringing together hundreds of companies from both regions, with expectations of new deals and investment announcements.

 “We want to bring captains of industry into the conversation—not just governments,” he said.

 In a deliberate move to engage young people, part of the forum will be hosted at the University of Nairobi, reflecting Africa’s demographic reality as the world’s youngest continent.

 “If we do not involve youth, we miss the point of Africa,” the PS said.

 Creative industries, sports and innovation will also feature prominently, with both sides highlighting their potential as drivers of growth, jobs and cultural exchange.

 On investment, the French side signalled that significant commitments are expected to be unveiled during the summit, particularly in the energy, transport and digital sectors.

 “The idea is for Africa to bring its assets and capabilities, and combine them with technology, financing and partnerships from France,” the envoy said.

 “The programme will include civil society engagements, followed by a major business forum bringing together around 500 companies from Africa and France. These will be structured into thematic sessions, leading up to a heads-of-state summit,” the envoy said.

 France has already invested billions of euros in Kenya over the past decade, positioning itself as one of the country’s leading private investors and a key partner in sectors such as renewable energy.

 The discussions also touched on emerging areas of cooperation, including nuclear energy, agricultural value chains and technology—especially artificial intelligence—where both sides see Africa as having untapped potential.

 “There is a need to ensure Africa is not just a consumer of technology, but a creator,” Suquet said.

 Both officials stressed that the summit will prioritise tangible outcomes, with structured engagements across civil society, business and political leaders feeding into high-level discussions among heads of state.

 PS Sing’Oei also confirmed that the venue of the meeting has changed to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre from Bomas of Kenya, as the latter is incomplete.