French President Emmanuel Macron kicked off the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi, signaling a shift in Paris’ Africa strategy. He unveiled a $27 billion investment pledge aimed at infrastructure, energy and digital projects, and urged African entrepreneurs to consider France as a partner. Roughly 30 heads of state, including Kenya’s William Ruto, gathered for the two‑day dialogue.

Macron’s decision to host the meeting outside Francophone Africa reflects growing friction with former colonies; Ivory Coast and other West African states have recently demanded the withdrawal of French troops, and the Sahel counter‑terrorism mission ended in 2022. By turning to Anglophone partners, Paris hopes to rebuild influence while African leaders eye diversified strategic sources of capital from China, Russia and the United States.

Kenyan President William Ruto used the platform to showcase Nairobi’s growing diplomatic clout ahead of a contested 2027 re‑election bid, positioning the country as a gateway for French and other foreign investors. Analysts say the $27 billion pledge could spur projects worth billions, but its impact will depend on how quickly firms translate the financing into contracts on the ground.