France and Kenya will jointly host the Africa Forward Summit: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth in Nairobi on 11 and 12 May 2026. The two-day event will bring together the President of the French Republic, the President of the Republic of Kenya, and other African heads of state and government for what organisers describe as a milestone in relations between France and the African continent.
A Historic First for Anglophone Africa
The Africa Forward Summit marks the first time such a high-level France-Africa gathering will be hosted and co-chaired with an English-speaking country — a significant symbolic shift nearly a decade after the French president's landmark 2017 speech in Ouagadougou. Organisers say the choice of Nairobi reflects a commitment to building balanced, mutually beneficial partnerships rooted in real economic complementarities rather than historical dependency or geopolitical bloc logic.
Programme and Key Themes
The summit is structured across two thematic days. May 11, themed Inspire and Connect, will open with a Business Forum spotlighting France-Africa economic partnerships and private sector initiatives from both continents. Special sessions dedicated to youth, sports, and the cultural and creative industries will also feature prominently, with an emphasis on job creation and social cohesion. May 12 will shift focus to development finance and global governance, with discussions centred on youth employment, sovereignty, digital competitiveness, energy access, food sovereignty, health system strengthening, and connectivity. Peace and security — particularly in support of African Union mediation efforts — will also be on the agenda.
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