By DENIS LUBANGA
The Airbus A330-200 carrying French President Emmanuel Macron and his delegation departed from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on the morning of Wednesday, May 13, 2026, for Ethiopia’s Bole International Airport. Macron had just concluded his visit to Kenya after co-chairing the inaugural Africa Forward Summit alongside President William Ruto.
The two-day event in Nairobi brought together more than 30 delegations to advance partnerships in energy, artificial intelligence, digital technology, maritime affairs, and agriculture, with Macron unveiling investments worth 23 billion pounds aimed at creating 250,000 jobs across the continent.
Yet even as Macron departed Kenyan soil aboard the aircraft that serves as his principal official plane for long-haul international travel, questions lingered over whether his participation in the Africa Forward Summit — the first event of its kind to be hosted in an Anglophone African nation — would ultimately deliver meaningful long-term benefits.
Before leaving Nairobi, Macron praised Ruto as a “brother” who embraced the bold idea of the summit and thanked Kenyans for their warm hospitality, while framing the agreements reached as partnerships based on equality amid France’s growing diplomatic outreach to Anglophone Africa.
Macron, who at one point during his Nairobi visit faced backlash after interrupting a panel discussion and silencing the crowd, commended Ruto for agreeing to organise what he described as a successful Africa Forward Summit. He further praised Kenya’s hospitality and described the gathering as a powerful symbol of friendship and strengthening ties between France and Africa.
“And I want all our companies and our citizens to hear this as a message. I want the youth of France to understand that our fate is tied to the African continent, which will succeed with Africa. Let me first thank President Ruto, my dear brother William, because he had to be crazy to accept this offer to co-chair and organise a summit like this one, but he did. But more than that, he delivered. I want to thank the president of Kenya, his government, his teams, and all the organisations involved, including the French teams, because together you clearly built something unique, which is the Africa Forward Summit. What you achieved is premium. The Africa Forward Summit is the beginning of a new era, no doubt,” Macron said during the closing ceremony of the two-day event.
On his part, President Ruto, whose government faced criticism from Pan-Africanists for hosting the summit after France was expelled from parts of the Sahel region, maintained that Africa must take the lead in charting its own development agenda through policymakers and private sector leadership.
“Any other support we get from friends like Macron and others will be secondary. We will not allow ourselves again to be slaves of anybody. We are going to take charge of our own future,” Ruto said.
The Kenyan head of state further insisted that, following the summit, Africa would no longer allow itself to be “exploited” because the continent already understands what it must do to achieve prosperity.
“And what we are saying is that we don’t want to blame anyone for our own mistakes. President Paul Kagame told us today that no one owes us development. We owe it to ourselves. So, we must not look for favours when we can do it ourselves,” added Ruto.
During the second day of the summit, at least five youths were arrested at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, one of the main venues hosting the Africa Forward Summit, before later being arraigned in court. They were charged with offensive conduct and causing a breach of peace.
Reacting to Kenya’s decision to co-host the summit, Prof. Macharia Munene, a political historian, described the gathering as significant for Nairobi’s international profile.
“It gives some publicity to Nairobi and nothing else. The summit gave a chance to some African presidents to meet outside the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa,” said Macharia.
Prof. Macharia further noted that the summit was equally beneficial for Macron personally.
“This is something that is giving him mileage that he might not get elsewhere. Macron is a man struggling to be accepted as a leader in Europe and globally. So, what better way to demonstrate acceptance outside Europe than Nairobi, which was not part of the French colonial system?” observed Macharia.
Macharia, who also doubles as a political analyst, argued that the meeting was equally advantageous to President Ruto, who is serving his first term in office.
“Ruto is an interesting man. He craves validation and acceptance as a leader of Africans. This meeting gave him an opportunity to appear as a continental leader because his counterparts were expected to sit down, listen to him, and observe his leadership. Therefore, this meeting is going to benefit both Macron and Ruto,” added Macharia.
Prof. Macharia further emphasised that the summit was largely centred around French interests in Africa.
“But again, Macron and Ruto synchronise so well. Further, Macron appears to have recognised Ruto as a person capable of advancing French interests, at least from his perspective. There is a convergence of interests between the two leaders in the way they manage their respective countries at this time. Whether or not there are tangible benefits from this summit is another matter,” he added.
Following the summit themed ‘Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnership for Growth and Innovation’, participating leaders adopted a declaration which President Ruto described as a framework for a strengthened Africa-France partnership aimed at promoting inclusive growth and innovation.
Adopted in Nairobi on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the declaration called for strengthened peace, security, and strategic autonomy; advancement of sustainable value-added agriculture; the building of resilient health systems; and driving economic growth through green industrialisation and energy transition. It also emphasised unlocking the blue economy, harnessing digital transformation and artificial intelligence, reforming the international financial architecture, and investing in people, skills, and innovation. Additionally, the declaration called for improved infrastructure, trade, regional integration, and mobilisation of resources for sustainable transformation.
Also speaking after the summit, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema dismissed claims that France had summoned African leaders to attend the gathering.
“I understand where that perception is coming from. But I do not think we should define it as one country encompassing Africa. Mind you, at times, African summits are also held in those countries. This is the first time we are hosting this summit on the continent in this broader African context rather than just a Francophone setting,” explained Hichilema.
Prof. Macharia also observed that many of the countries represented in Nairobi maintain close ties with France or other major global powers.
“For instance, Sierra Leone is a former British colony but maintains close relations with Morocco. Each country attended because of what it considers to be in its interests and how France can come in to help and support,” he said.
Following a series of military coups since 2020, the juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger expelled French troops and severed long-standing military ties with Paris.
Rather than engaging with Western-backed initiatives, the three countries — all of which skipped the Africa Forward Summit — formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and shifted their security and economic partnerships towards Russia, China, and Turkey.
“Whether Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger were invited or not, it was highly expected that they would not attend because of their strained relations with France,” explained Prof. Macharia.
Prof. Macharia further argued that the absence of the African Union at the summit suggested deeper concerns.
“The United Nations was here, and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke about financing. If the idea is for the Africa Forward Summit to replace the African Union as a vehicle for solving Africa’s problems, then we have a problem,” he added.
Speaking during the summit, Guterres stressed that climate adaptation should no longer be treated as an afterthought.
“The adaptation gap must be closed. Africa is paying an enormous price because of the devastation caused by climate change, yet the continent is being denied the resources and capacity needed to protect populations and infrastructure. Climate finance with justice is a necessity in today’s world,” said Guterres.
As leaders and delegates gathered at KICC and the University of Nairobi for the historic summit, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua criticised the event, claiming it primarily served political interests rather than ordinary Kenyans.
Gachagua further alleged that the summit had been used as a platform for international image laundering instead of addressing local challenges affecting citizens. He also urged Guterres to take note of what he described as serious human rights violations in Kenya, while accusing Ruto of political intolerance and intimidation.
“The Africa Forward Summit happening in Nairobi is just a slideshow by William Ruto meant to hoodwink Kenyans on matters affecting them. But nothing meaningful is coming out of it. Kenya risks sliding into anarchy if William Ruto attempts to rig elections he is bound to lose. We urge the world, and especially the UN secretary-general, to take note of Ruto’s actions ahead of the 2027 elections,” Gachagua told reporters in Nairobi.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party leader also claimed that Macron’s visit was linked to discussions surrounding the alleged misuse of billions of shillings of taxpayers’ money.
“It is important that we let you, Macron, know that Kenyans made noise at Taifa Hall during your address not out of disrespect or hatred. They had a message for you: their taxes had allegedly been wired to French firms to the tune of KSh7 billion, believed to be proceeds of crime, while their children remain out of school and families lack food on the table,” claimed Gachagua.
In a swift rejoinder, former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria criticised Gachagua, saying the timing and tone of his remarks regarding the Africa Forward Summit reflected a leader who does not prioritise the country’s interests.
“We may have our local political differences, but for Kenya to host an event of this magnitude is something every well-meaning Kenyan should be proud of. By the way, I challenge Rigathi Gachagua to post even one photo of himself meeting any diplomat as an opposition leader. Which opposition leader can go for almost two years without engaging the international community? Rigathi Gachagua will soon reveal his true self — a village tyrant determined to lead a cult rather than a nation,” Kuria posted on his official social media accounts.
Environmental lawyer Joseph Masakhalia also reacted to the summit, arguing that Kenyans often pursue activities driven by self-interest.
“This purported summit was merely a way of manipulating and diverting public attention from the real issues and problems facing the economy,” said Masakhalia.
Masakhalia further argued that many African initiatives are driven by insincere ideologies.
“We misrepresent ourselves and elevate puppets who, in the end, only benefit a few individuals economically and financially. When shall we, as Africans, begin doing things with goodwill and genuine intentions?” he posed.
However, Catherine Koffman, the Green Climate Regional Director, welcomed the summit, describing it as an inclusive initiative.
“With the French president co-chairing this event on the African continent, particularly in East Africa, I think that is a positive and inclusive move,” she said.
The curtains finally came down on the Africa Forward Summit at the Kasarani Indoor Arena on the night of Tuesday, May 13, 2026, with Le Concert bringing together African music, culture, leaders, and creatives in a celebration of unity, diversity, and the continent’s creative spirit.
