French President Macron pledges €23 billion investment package at Nairobi summit
The Africa Forward Summit concluded in Nairobi with French and African leaders committing public and private capital, though details on disbursement remain unconfirmed
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a €23 billion investment package for the African continent, a commitment drawn from both French and African public and private actors. The declaration was made as the Africa Forward Summit concluded in Nairobi, marking the end of a two-day gathering hosted jointly by France and Kenya.
The summit, which convened at the invitation of both nations, attracted approximately 30 African heads of state and government alongside more than 3,000 delegates. During a press conference with journalists from FRANCE 24, RFI, and TV5Monde, Macron presented the financial pledge as a showcase for a new model of partnership between Paris and African nations. He explicitly characterised this renewed engagement as a "partnership of equals".
This initiative arrives against a backdrop of perceived declining French influence over its former colonies in West Africa and the Sahel region. Macron described the Nairobi event as a critical opportunity to demonstrate a shift in diplomatic dynamics, moving away from traditional frameworks toward a more balanced relationship with African states.
The announcement of the €23 billion figure comes as security conditions in the region remain volatile. Recent reports indicate that armed groups have launched attacks on military positions in Mali, including near the capital Bamako and other towns such as Kati, Gao, and Sevare. Fighting was ongoing at the time of those reports, highlighting the complex security environment in which the summit's partnership model is being proposed.
While Macron outlined the scope of the investment involving both French and African entities, the source material does not provide a specific breakdown of the funding between public and private sectors or between the two continents. Furthermore, the precise nature of the "new model" beyond the descriptor of equality, as well as the timeline for the realisation of the funds, has not been detailed in the available reports.
The summit proceedings were covered by international media outlets including FRANCE 24, RFI, and TV5Monde, which recorded Macron's responses regarding the strategic importance of the gathering. The event serves as a focal point for assessing France's ongoing efforts to reassert its geopolitical standing in Africa through significant financial commitments.
