NAIROBI, Kenya — French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a €23bn ($27bn) investment package for Africa, declaring that the era of European “charity” is over in favour of a partnership built on sovereign equality.
The Africa Forward Summit, co-hosted by France and Kenya in Nairobi, concluded on Tuesday with a strong emphasis on mutual respect. The gathering comes at a critical time for French diplomacy, following a sharp fallout with several of its former colonies in West Africa and the recent withdrawal of French troops from the region.
A €23bn Financial Shift
The centrepiece of the summit is a massive financial commitment aimed at energy, artificial intelligence, and agriculture. President Macron broke down the funding as follows:
- French Investment: €14bn ($16.4bn) provided by French companies.
- African Entities: €9bn ($10.5bn) contributed by African partners.
Mr Macron described the move as a fundamental “financial shift,” moving away from the old models of aid toward “co-investment.” Addressing the 30 heads of state in attendance, he insisted that “your success is our success.”
The ‘Sovereignty’ Mandate
Kenya’s President William Ruto used his closing speech to send a clear message to Paris and the wider international community. Referencing the word “sovereignty” eight times, Mr. Ruto made it clear that Africa is no longer looking for a benefactor.
“New partnerships must not be built on dependency but on sovereign equality,” Mr. Ruto said. “Not on aid or charity, but on mutually beneficial investment; and not on extraction or exploitation, but on win-win engagements.”
Voices of Dissent
Despite the high-level unity, the summit faced criticism from those who view French involvement with suspicion.
- The Skeptic: Kenyan environmental lawyer Masakhalia Joseph dismissed the gathering as a “puppeted summit,” arguing that such projects often benefit only a few individuals while “manipulating and diverting” people from real economic problems.
- The Optimist: Conversely, Catherine Koffman of the Green Climate Fund described the hosting of the summit on African soil as a “positive move,” suggesting it shows France is finally prioritising both Anglophone and Francophone Africa equally.
Moving Past ‘Françafrique’
The summit is a major plank of Mr Macron’s new strategy to rebuild France’s reputation on the continent. For decades, the policy known as Françafrique—characterised by heavy-handed political and military influence—was deeply resented by many African leaders.
Following the withdrawal of French troops from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and most recently Senegal in July, Paris is now attempting to use “soft power” and economic partnership to stay relevant in a region where China, Russia, and the US are increasingly influential.
The event is expected to close with a joint declaration signed by all 30 participating nations, intended to serve as a roadmap for this new, “equal” relationship.
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