Emmanuel Macron has announced \u20ac23 billion ($27bn) in investments during the Africa Forward summit held in Kenya, as France seeks to strengthen its economic and political ties with African nations. <\/p>\n
Macron said Africa and France were now engaged in a \u201cpartnership of equals\u201d with shared goals. He announced \u20ac14 billion ($16.4bn) in investments from French public and private companies and \u20ac9 billion ($10.5bn) from African partners, focused on energy transition, agriculture and artificial intelligence. According to him, the projects are expected to create around 250,000 jobs across France and Africa, News.Az<\/a> reports, citing Al Jazeera.<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The summit, held in Nairobi and attended by leaders from more than 30 African countries, including Francophone states, marks France\u2019s first major economic forum hosted in an English-speaking African country. Macron told participants that the relationship between France and Africa should be based on mutual investment rather than aid.<\/p>\n He said African business leaders should also invest in France, describing the new economic approach as \u201cfree of hang-ups\u201d and based on balanced cooperation.<\/p>\n Among those present were Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote and executives from major French companies including TotalEnergies, Orange and shipping group CMA CGM, which announced a \u20ac700 million investment to modernise a terminal at the port of Mombasa.<\/p>\n The summit comes as France\u2019s influence in Africa has declined, with French military forces recently withdrawing from several former colonies. Macron has been seeking to reposition France as a long-term economic partner while also strengthening Europe\u2019s role in Africa compared to China and the United States.<\/p>\n In comments ahead of the summit, Macron said colonial history should no longer be used to explain all of Africa\u2019s challenges and urged African leaders to focus on governance reforms.<\/p>\n He also said the return of African cultural artefacts taken during the colonial period had become \u201cunstoppable,\u201d following a recent French parliamentary law enabling the restitution of looted artworks.<\/p>\n The summit is taking place as some African countries reduce foreign military presence, while Kenya<\/a> continues to host international forces. Around 800 French soldiers arrived in Kenya on a naval vessel shortly before the event.<\/p>\n Kenyan President William Ruto welcomed the partnership with France, saying future relations should focus on investment and Africa\u2019s economic potential rather than aid or loans.<\/p>\n
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