Emmanuel Macron has announced investment commitments worth 23 billion euros, equivalent to around 27 billion dollars, for Africa during the Africa Forward summit held in Kenya. The initiative aims to strengthen economic cooperation between France and African nations while shifting focus toward long-term partnerships in energy, agriculture and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
The announcement was made during the two-day summit in Nairobi, where Macron outlined that a significant portion of the funding will come from both French public and private sector companies. Additionally, African investors are expected to contribute billions more, reflecting a shared investment approach designed to encourage mutual economic growth and job creation across multiple sectors.
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According to official projections, the combined investments are expected to generate approximately 250,000 jobs across Africa and France. Macron emphasized that the goal is to build a balanced partnership model that moves beyond traditional aid structures and instead focuses on shared development, innovation and private sector collaboration between both regions.
Furthermore, Macron described the evolving relationship between Africa and France as a “partnership of equals,” highlighting the need for deeper economic integration and mutual investment flows. He also encouraged African business leaders to invest in France, signaling a two-way economic strategy aimed at strengthening trade relations and reducing historical dependency models.
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At the same time, the summit reflects a broader strategic shift in France’s approach to Africa, as relations with several former French colonies continue to weaken. Analysts note that France has faced growing challenges in maintaining influence across the continent, particularly in regions where military presence has been reduced and political sentiment has shifted toward new global partnerships.
In addition, William Ruto welcomed increased investment cooperation, stressing the importance of replacing aid-based relationships with investment-driven growth strategies. The summit brought together leaders from more than 30 African nations along with major business figures, including Aliko Dangote and executives from leading French companies, reinforcing the focus on trade, development and long-term economic transformation.