French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan President William Ruto opened the "Africa Forward" summit in Nairobi on Monday to launch a new partnership framework [1, 4].

The summit represents a strategic effort by France to rebuild its influence across the continent. This shift comes after a rise in anti-French sentiment and the withdrawal of French troops from former colonies in the Sahel region [2, 3].

Macron arrived in Kenya on Sunday to begin the proceedings [5]. The event is co-hosted by two countries [6] and has drawn more than 30 African leaders to the Kenyan capital [5]. The summit, also referred to as the Africa-France summit, aims to transition from a colonial-era approach to a relationship based on a partnership of equals [1, 4].

During the event, Macron addressed the historical baggage of French involvement in the region. He said that France no longer sees Africa as a “private domain” [1]. This rhetoric signals a departure from the traditional "Françafrique" policy that characterized French diplomacy for decades.

Macron also spoke to the current role of European powers in the region. He said, "Europe are not the predators of this century" [7].

The new framework focuses on economic cooperation and mutual development. By centering the summit in Nairobi, France and Kenya are signaling a broader engagement with African nations beyond the traditional Francophone sphere [3, 4].

“France no longer sees Africa as a “private domain”.”

This summit marks a formal pivot in French foreign policy as Paris attempts to mitigate the loss of geopolitical leverage in West Africa. By rebranding its engagement as a 'partnership of equals' and hosting the event in non-Francophone Kenya, France is attempting to diversify its African alliances and distance itself from its colonial legacy to counter growing regional instability and competition from other global powers.