Kenya and France will jointly hold the “Africa Forward Summit: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth” in Nairobi on 11 and 12 May 2026. The President of the French Republic and African heads of State and Government will attend.
The African Forward Summit is a milestone in relations between France and the African continent, nearly ten years after the speech of the French President’s speech in Ouagadougou.
This is the first summit of its kind to be hosted and co-chaired with an English-speaking country. It reflects robust and balanced Africa-France partnerships built in support of each country’s economic development – because they are based on real complementarities – and to the benefit of populations. These partnerships must also contribute to fairer and more inclusive global governance, which rejects bloc mindsets, predation and new imperialist tendencies and are now more than ever proving their worth.
The Africa Forward Summit will illustrate the rich and dynamic relations between the African continent and France through the diversity of participants, which include States, business leaders, young people, artists, civil societies and diasporas. It will be an opportunity to highlight the commitment of France, Kenya and other African countries to stepping up mutual investment and to building and financing tangible solutions to common challenges, including health system strengthening, food sovereignty, digital competitiveness, energy access and connectivity.
It builds on the Summit on the Financing of African Economies held in Paris in 2021, the New Global Financing Pact held in Paris in 2023 and the European Union-African Union Summit held in Luanda in November 2025.
Programme
11 May’s theme is “Inspire and Connect” and it will begin with a Business Forum that will highlight the breadth of France-Africa economic partnerships and promote projects and initiatives conducted in African and French private sectors. There will be several special events focused on young people and sectors of excellence that generate jobs and build cohesion, including sports and cultural and creative industries.
12 May will be devoted to development finance and global issues.
Youth employment and training, sovereignty and competitiveness will be at the core of discussions. The Summit will also discuss peace and security in support of African mediation and African Union action.
Certain conclusions of the Africa Forward Summit will provide substance for preparations of the G7 Summit, which France will host in Evian from 15 to 17 June.
