French President Emmanuel Macron attended the "Africa Forward" summit in Nairobi, Kenya, to signal a shift in France's diplomatic approach to Africa.
This move marks a strategic departure from the historic "pré-carré" policy, which prioritized French influence within francophone nations. By hosting the summit in an anglophone country for the first time [2], France is attempting to diversify its partnerships and pivot toward East Africa.
Macron said the era of the French "pré-carré" in Africa has been over since 2017 [1]. The president's tour, which began this past Saturday, focuses on re-orienting the relationship between the two regions toward investment-driven cooperation [3].
During the proceedings, Macron said the goal is to refound ties with Africa by betting on investments and cooperation [4]. The "Africa Forward" summit is designed to move away from traditional political spheres of influence and instead emphasize economic growth, and mutual financial interests [3].
This transition is intended to address long-standing criticisms of French paternalism in its former colonies. The selection of Kenya as the venue serves as a symbolic break from the previous focus on French-speaking states [2].
Macron said the shift toward a new model of partnership is essential for the future of French-African relations [4]. The French government intends for this new framework to prioritize economic viability over the maintenance of historic political hegemony [3].
“"L'époque du pré carré français en Afrique est terminée depuis 2017."”
The abandonment of the 'pré-carré'—literally 'square of the garden'—represents a formal acknowledgment that France can no longer maintain an exclusive sphere of influence in Africa. As global competitors like China and Russia increase their footprints on the continent, France is attempting to transition from a former colonial administrator to a strategic economic partner, shifting its gaze from West African francophone states toward the growing markets of East Africa.
