Following its withdrawal from the Sahel region, France is seeking to expand its geostrategic influence in Africa by courting new allies. The first Africa Summit, to be held May 11–12 in Kenya, is intended to mark a fresh start.
When the foreign ministers of France and Kenya open the "Africa Forward Summit: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth" at the University of Nairobi on May 11, the focus will be on finding common ground. The two-day meeting is the first of its kind that France is hosting in an English-speaking African country not among its traditional partners.
According to analysts, President Emmanuel Macron wants to signal a shift away from France's previous Africa policy in West Africa. Ulf Laessing, head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's Sahel regional program in Mali, told DW that France has lost significant prestige and influence in Francophone African countries, especially in the Sahel. It is now making a strong effort to expand into Anglophone countries like South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria to reposition itself.
Macron and Kenyan President William Ruto will co-chair the summit, focusing on enhanced security, economic investment, and green energy. Around 30 heads of state and government are expected to attend. Ruto also intends to discuss making the global financial system more equitable for indebted African nations, with France pledging support.
Analysts say France aims to offset its loss of influence in Francophone Africa by gaining more in Anglophone countries. However, competition with existing partners like China, India, the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia is likely fierce. France already does successful business in Kenya, being the fifth-largest foreign direct investor, supporting 46,000 jobs, with trade estimated at around $300 million.
Kenyan economist James Shikwati noted that Kenya wants stronger alliances with global powers, and France sees this as an entry point back into Africa, particularly into Anglophone Africa where it isn't viewed with hostility. The summit also highlights how global crises are pressuring traditional markets to realign strategies toward emerging economies.
Source: www.dw.com