Sommet Africa Forward à Nairobi: une deuxième journée plus politique
The Africa Forward summit continues today in Nairobi. Monday, May 11, was focused on the economy with a business forum bringing together business leaders from France and across the continent. This Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the focus is more political, with 32 heads of state and government expected in the Kenyan capital.
Among them, 28 heads of state are expected to attend, according to the Élysée Palace, writes our correspondent in Nairobi, Albane Thirouard. Other countries will be represented by their heads of government or vice-presidents. Then there will be three notable absentees: the leaders of the ESA (Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger), three countries that abruptly broke with Paris. Despite these absences, "West African countries will be present," Emmanuel Macron announced shortly before the summit on May 10. Thus, the leaders of Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Togo are expected.
The search for investments
For those attending in Nairobi, several topics are on the agenda. First, there will be a meeting between political representatives and some thirty French and African CEOs to discuss industrialization and the energy transition. The private sector has been central to this summit. Kenyan President William Ruto announced the day before its opening that he was not seeking "aid or loans" but "investment."
The Élysée Palace wants a frank, direct, and open discussion with the leaders of major companies operating in Africa, including CMA CGM, Orange, Kenya's Equity Bank, and TotalEnergies, reports our special correspondent in Nairobi, Alexis Bédu. These companies represent over €100 billion in revenue in Africa, tens of billions in annual investments, and nearly one million jobs. Their leaders are demanding greater stability and rules that don't constantly change, particularly regarding taxation.
"The solutions are known."
In their demands, they advocate for faster procedures and, above all, new risk-sharing mechanisms. They consider certain guarantees essential for increasing their investments on the continent. "The diagnosis is shared. The solutions are known," write a large number of these CEOs in an opinion piece published in Le Figaro. The discussion will focus on the business climate in Africa. With persistently high interest rates hindering investment, there is a lack of financing, particularly in infrastructure. This Tuesday, this coalition of leaders will have the opportunity to directly ask heads of state for a more predictable and less risky environment.
Another key theme at the heart of the discussions is the international financial architecture. Its reform is a project championed by the French and Kenyan presidents. It aims to make the global financial system more equitable and better adapted to the development needs of countries in the Global South. Finally, issues of peace and security on the African continent will also be debated.
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