By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider
Kenya is set to be the host nation for the France-Africa Summit which is due to take place from 11-12 May 2026 as its officially to be named “Africa Forward Summit: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth”. This will also mark the first time the summit is being held in a non-Francophone African country.
The event has been framed as a platform to strengthen partnerships in business, technology, sustainable development and will gather various government officials, corporate leaders as well as representatives from Civil society.
Despite the platform that the summit provides for African development and sustainability, the summit has also provoked political reaction as the platform is being viewed as geopolitical repositioning by France on African soil. There is a major transformation occurring in the relationship between France and the African continent considering the declining influence that France has in the Sahel region.
Countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso as well Niger have protested in masses which has even led to the expulsion of French troops as well as a breakdown in long standing military and economic relationship and arrangements.
A counter summit is due to take place which is organised by the Pan-Africanism Summit Against Imperialism (PASAI) which will coincide with the France-Africa Summit and will aim to challenge the idea of “imperialist nature” with the relationship that France has with the African continent.
The South African presidency has confirmed that President Cyril Ramaphosa will not be in attendance at the France-Africa Summit hosted in Nairobi due to prior commitments.
Many speculations suggest that the true meaning behind Ramaphosa’s lack of attendance is due to being withdrawn by France in the upcoming G7 Summit, however the gesture made by French President Emmanuel Macron, was an effort to mend the ties between South Africa and France. Ambassador of France to Kenya, Arnaud Suquet, has reinforced the impact that this summit will have on Africa economically.
“Over the past decade, French Investments in Kenya have grown significantly, particularly energy, infrastructure, and services. Today, more than 140 French enterprises operate in Kenya. In the past decade, France has invested an estimated 1.8 million Euros in Kenya in sectors that drive employability and sustainability for a better future” said Suquet.
Ambassador France to South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi, David Martinon, addressed the media yesterday at the upcoming Africa Forward Summit and highlighted that South Africa should attend all G20 events.
“France being also a founding member of the G20 we consider of course that South Africa is a full fledged member of the G20 and should be part of all its meetings” said Martinon.
“As for the G7 I can only refer to what President Ramaphosa said about it, if I remember it’s something like ‘you can’t be de-invited from a forum you don’t belong to’. But that’s his words.” added Martinon.
France has also denied any allegations surrounding the idea that Washington had influenced France’s decision to uninvite South Africa and that it simply decided to invite Kenya on this occasion.