France’s new direction in Africa has been a little over two months since Kenya hosted France’s Africa Forward Summit 2026 in Nairobi.
Co-hosted by the presidents of each country, it marked the official start of France’s pivot in Africa. This move brings France away from the francophone regions it has been associated with for so long, towards the anglophone region of East Africa.
Whilst some protested the event, citing neocolonialism, the new direction France has taken in Africa was welcomed warmly by many, seeing in it potential trading opportunities with a European powerhouse. France came to the summit seeking around 250 deals and agreements with East African trade partners.
President Macron himself committed one billion euros of investment during his keynote address at the summit. These impressive figures heralded a landmark moment in European – African relations in two key ways. First, since 1973, the Africa Forward Summit has been held solely in francophone nations, previously colonised by France.
The Africa that France finds itself dealing with now is a different place from when it began its long exit from the continent, culminating, finally, in its departure from Mali.The fact that France is transitioning to different potential trading nations in Africa may be seen to underline the shift in relations over the last decade between some West African countries and France, which have deteriorated.
This has driven the summit towards nations positively disposed to France, in this case Kenya, which stands to benefit a great deal from a reimagined partnership with a European financial giant. There is a possibility that those junta-led West African nations which booted France out might, even feel a twinge of regret.
Security across Mali in particular has drastically worsened since Operation Barkhane finished. Even the capital Bamako is looking out anxiously as the various insurgent and terrorist groups rapidly gain ground and move nearer.
A combination of collapsing security, together with a reduction in trade with France and the EU, is resulting in a deteriorating quality of life for the people of Mali. One critical difference in engaging with Africa which France will experience as it begins its recalibration with the continent will be in the matter of the terms on which African nations now trade.
For example, over the last few years, increasing impetus has been placed on the sovereignty of African nations over the extraction and processing systems of their resources. Essentially, this means African countries are taking more of a driving role in deal-making and developing terms that finally benefiting from their own resources in a more equitable way. Something which is well overdue.
If France can use its fresh start to adapt to this new reality and enter the market on the most up-to-date trading terms, it will find itself a popular trading partner.
The second update to a Franco-African reset is the fact that France chose to reimagine the summit, rather than abandon it, and chose to host it in an anglophone, East African nation, which suggests they are not giving up on Africa. It suggests that whilst it has needed to reposition itself geographically on the continent, France does not want to relinquish the strategic and commercial opportunities Africa offers.
This reflects a high level of willingness to invest in the region, something East African nations should stand to benefit from. Although there were dissenting voices about having a new Western power on the scene in East Africa, many others saw the choice of Kenya as the partner nation as a huge vote of investor confidence. In 2025, Kenya’s GDP showed an encouraging 4.6% growth rate, according to Kenya’s Business Daily.
An impressive metric given some of Kenya’s and the region’s wider problems with governance and security. This performance is unlikely to have been missed by France and could have been an important factor, when France was casting around for host nations. France’s dramatic pivot in Africa is still unproven, and Macron will find the road he is travelling bumpy. Not everyone will welcome the move. But the economic resources France could bring to bear are considerable.
The French president’s huge investment promises during the summit demonstrate that this move is not a superficial power play, but a strategic push to become a core partner to East Africa.
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