Africa Forward Summit 2026: French President Macron to bid farewell at the Nairobi event
France and Kenya are jointly hosting the event running between the 10th to the 12th of May 2026, in Nairobi, hatching a major milestone in relations between African countries and Paris.
Black News 
The Africa Forward Summit, taking place in Nairobi is anticipated to revive the somehow severed relations between France and many African countries.
France and Kenya are jointly hosting the event running between the 10th to the 12th of May 2026, in Nairobi, hatching a major milestone in relations between African countries and Paris.
But according to organizers, the relationship between France and Africa is using the platform in adopting a new format in their cooperation with a focus on financial issues, blue economy, entrepreneurship and youth development.
The 2026 Africa Forward Summit (AFS) brings together heads of state and government from France and several dozen countries from across the continent.
Within the East African Community it is the host, William Ruto of Kenya, Rwandan leader, Paul Kagame and Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye, are the three EAC Heads of State speaking at the summit.
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron will also address the summit towards its closing on the final day. It will also be his last speech.
President Macron will be using the occasion to bid farewell to all leaders and other delegates in attendance as he prepares to step down from office in August 2026.
Other key speakers include the Presidents of Egypt, Djibouti, Ghana, Morocco, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal and Colombia.
Africa’s richest person, Aliko Dangote will also address the summit in Nairobi. He plans to erect a giant oil refinery in Tanzania.
More than 2,000 participants from the political, economic, and civil society spheres are also in attendance, including internationally recognized elite athletes.
Global bodies like the European Union, the African Union, international financial institutions, development banks, and the French Development Agency (AFD).
Delegates will use the meetings to identify solutions to shared challenges facing France and African countries.
The Nairobi summit also provides an opportunity to amplify the voices of young leaders, in an event designed as a platform for dialogue and for showcasing their ideas for the future of the African continent.
Nearly 20 heads of state and government leaders are attending the Africa Forward Summit, including development banks and multilateral lenders driving reform of the global financial architecture for Africa.
Others are approximately 30 leading chief executives from Africa and France, driving investment and partnership commitments, representatives from civil society organizations and youth leaders and continental bodies ensuring pan-African representation and alignment with Agenda 2063 priorities.
Paris intends to use the occasion in offering pride of place to major French and African companies and start-ups. Hundreds have confirmed their attendance, with numerous contract signings anticipated.
The summit is essentially meant to illustrate the dynamic relations between the African continent and France by bringing together Heads of States, business leaders, young people, artists, civil societies and diasporas.
It was announced at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) by Presidents Ruto and Macron and therefore the closing remarks will be delivered jointly by both leaders.
