Criticized for neo-colonial interference in several African nations where it historically maintains strong connections, France is expanding its scope by jointly hosting a summit of African leaders in English-speaking Kenya for the first time.
Addressing the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi on Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized "co-investment" and "equal partnerships" while outlining common challenges such as security, economic reliance, and geopolitical rivalry.
Kenya's President William Ruto, co-hosting the two-day summit, expressed his views, stating that Africa should play a role in shaping the evolving global order instead of staying on the sidelines.
Macron has declared investments totaling $27bn (£20bn) in Africa focused on sectors including energy transition, digital technology and AI, maritime economy, and agriculture.
"Africa is thriving." "It’s the most youthful continent globally and requires investment to achieve greater self-sufficiency," he stated on Monday, noting that this would generate approximately 250,000 jobs in Africa and France.
"We're not just here to invest in Africa with you - we want prominent African business leaders to also invest in France," Macron states.
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The summit seeks to expand Paris's alliances and secure investment agreements on the continent amid increasing anti-French feelings and waning influence in its former colonies, particularly in West Africa. This signifies a significant shift in Paris's perception of its connections with Africa.
For several years following independence in the 1960s, France upheld strong economic, political, and security relationships in numerous former colonies, resulting in pervasive claims that few things had altered.
French presidents have consistently convened summits with African leaders throughout the years - either in France or in French-speaking Africa - up to the present.
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Gilles Yabi, a political analyst from Senegal concentrating on the ties between France and Africa, stated on the BBC's Newsday programme: "A new generation of Africans seeks to move past colonialism and post-colonial impacts."
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Kenya's Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi described it as a "chance for Africa to unite its voice."