Macron Seeks New African Alliances and Moves Beyond France’s Colonial Past

French President Emmanuel Macron is attending the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi, Kenya, as part of a broader diplomatic tour of East Africa. The event, taking place on May 11 and May 12, 2026, is intended to redefine France’s role on the continent by moving away from its postcolonial history toward closer cooperation with African nations.

The summit has brought together more than 30 heads of state and government, alongside representatives from the African Union, various financial institutions, and the development sector. Among the leaders present are Kenya’s William Ruto and Senegal’s Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

Summit Themes and Objectives

The Africa Forward summit focuses on several key pillars of international cooperation, including the transition to sustainable energy, peace and security, and the reform of the international financial architecture. The event serves as a platform for France to court new allies and repair economic and security ties amid rising anti-French sentiment in several parts of Africa.

The proceedings began on May 11, 2026, with a series of networking events, matchmaking sessions, and workshops. These preliminary activities focused on the creative and cultural industries, sport, and youth engagement.

a paradigm shift

Organisers of the Africa Forward summit

Organisers have described the event as a paradigm shift in the relationship between France and Africa.

Diplomatic Shift Toward Anglophone Africa

The choice of Nairobi as the summit location is historically significant. According to reporting from The Guardian, the French-African summit, which has been held every few years since 1973, is being hosted in a non-francophone country for the first time on May 12, 2026.

Al Jazeera reports that This represents the first time since President Macron took office in 2017 that he has attended such a summit in an Anglophone country. This shift is seen as an effort by Paris to diversify its alliances beyond its former colonies in West and Central Africa, where France previously maintained significant political and economic influence.

The move comes as African nations increasingly seek more equal partnerships and tighter control over their own natural resources, while diversifying their alliances beyond traditional Western partners.

East African Tour Itinerary

The Nairobi summit is the central component of a three-country tour of East Africa. President Macron began the tour in Egypt on Saturday, May 10, 2026.

Following the conclusion of the Africa Forward summit on May 12, Macron is scheduled to travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, he will hold meetings with Ethiopian officials and participate in discussions regarding peace and security in Africa at the headquarters of the African Union.

Economic and Security Cooperation

Beyond diplomatic discussions, the visit to Kenya includes a strong economic component. Several agreements between French and Kenyan companies are set to be signed during the visit to increase commercial and economic cooperation between the two nations.

The strengthening of ties with Kenya follows a defence agreement struck between President Macron and President William Ruto in 2025.

The broader tour is viewed by analysts as a bid by the French government to rebuild its influence on the continent after experiencing a series of setbacks in its relations with former colonies in West Africa.