• French President Emmanuel Macron announced $27 billion in investments in Africa at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, focusing on energy transition, digital and AI, maritime economy, and agriculture.
  • The summit is held for the first time in Kenya, an English-speaking country, marking a shift in French policy towards Africa amid rising anti-French sentiment in former colonies.
  • Kenyan Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi said the summit represents an opportunity to overcome linguistic barriers and strengthen African integration.
  • France faces declining influence in former West African colonies, where military juntas have expelled French troops and turned to Russia.
  • Macron emphasized that Africa needs investment to become self-reliant and invited African business leaders to invest in France.