French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan President William Ruto announced during a meeting at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, 25th September 2024, that Nairobi, Kenya, will host the next Africa-France Summit in the first quarter of 2026. This marks the first time an Africa-France Summit takes place in an Anglophone country since the inaugural summit occurred in Paris in 1973 under President Georges Pompidou.
The Africa-France Summit strengthens relations between France and African nations through diplomatic engagement. Niger’s President Hamani Diori launched the summit in 1973 during Pompidou’s presidency, aiming to advance Franco-African relations into the post-colonial era. The summits have evolved to foster cooperation on political, economic, and social matters. The summits have tackled vital issues like development, security, climate change, and inclusive multilateralism over the years.
The Africa-France Summit initially focused on France’s relations with its former colonies, many of which are members of La Francophonie, but it extends beyond just Francophone nations. However, until now, only Francophone countries and France have hosted it. The summits bring together heads of state, civil society, private sector representatives, and other key stakeholders, expanding participation beyond just the Francophonie member states.
Response to Waning Influence?
Kenya, which is neither part of La Francophonie nor a Francophone country, will host the 2026 summit, as announced by Presidents Macron and Ruto. French authorities consider this a “sign” of their diplomacy shifting towards other African partners. However, some view it as a response to France’s waning influence in its former colonies, particularly in the Sahel, where military juntas have governed countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger since 2020 and have shown hostility towards Paris.
The Nairobi summit will invite all African heads of state and government, setting it apart from the last Africa-France Summit held in Montpellier, France, in 2021, where President Macron emphasised civil society and excluded African leaders. Civil society representatives and private sector leaders will continue to participate in Nairobi. The last traditional Africa-France Summit took place in Bamako, Mali, in 2017. The 2020 Bordeaux summit was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2026 summit in Nairobi will tackle key themes like climate challenges, environmental preservation, reforming international financial architecture, and promoting “inclusive multilateralism” that better addresses Africa’s needs. The French and Kenyan presidents, who have met several times, express a “strong commitment” to these issues, particularly within the Paris Pact for People and the Planet, which launched in 2023 and was revisited during a meeting in New York.
