By Ebuata Jakpor

Even with growing anti-French sentiment across and west and central Africa, France may gain some new friends on the continent through strategic partnerships that it says will prioritize respect and mutual benefit for French businesses and its African partners.

This vision is the central leaning of discussions planned for today at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital which was preceded on Monday by a youth networking event focused on creative and cultural industries and sport.

The event is being attended by about 4000 delegates from Africa, France and other European countries. More than 30 African leaders are also attending the summit which the French government is using to seek new deals to counter its diminishing influence in its former colonies in Africa.

The event, co-hosted by President Emmanuel Macron and President William Ruto of Kenya targets interventions in areas that the two said would also serve the interest of Africa in areas of artificial intelligence, infrastructure development, agriculture, and creative art, especially sports and entertainment. 

At the opening of the preceding event on Monday, President Macron said that France is not in Kenya to tell Kenyans what to do, and that France does not also have the means to help in the old way. Instead, it was in Nairobi to listen and to understand the dreams of Kenyans and what they are building for themselves.

He explained that Africa and France were equal partners citing an example of areas where they can collaborate and unite. They include in the areas of AI development and deployment which have been captured by the United States and Russia. Others are in the area of agriculture, creative arts and infrastructural development.

On his part, President Ruto said that his administration continues to prioritise infrastructure development and was expanding fibre optics connections across the country so that it could drive a digital revolution.
Ruto echoed the words of Macron that the event is a high-level gathering that reflects a renewed and forward-looking partnership between Africa and France, grounded in mutual respect, shared responsibility, and a clear commitment to delivering tangible outcomes.”

He also advocated for the global financial system to be more equitable for African nations, even as he insisted that the new partnership must consciously move away from pre-written narratives that have historically defined this relationship.

He maintained that the Africa Forward Summit would break barriers and focus on solutions.”

Jakpor, Executive Director, Renevlyn Development Initiative, wrote in from Lagos