Kenya: France to Host African Summit in Kenya, in Bid to ‘Diversify Alliances

France is convening the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 11, 2026. The event brings together business and political leaders from France and across the African continent.

According to RFI, this summit marks the first time France has staged such an event in an English-speaking country.

Strategic Diversification

The organization of the summit in Kenya is part of a broader effort by France to diversify alliances within Africa. By hosting the gathering in Nairobi, France is expanding its diplomatic and economic engagement to include English-speaking nations, moving beyond its traditional focus on Francophone states.

The summit is designed to facilitate direct cooperation between French interests and African leadership, specifically targeting the intersection of political governance and business development.