Macron's Kenya summit marks France's bold pivot toward East Africa
French President Emmanuel Macron launched France’s first business summit in an English-speaking African country on Monday, May 11. The event in Kenya marks a shift in Paris’s strategy to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties beyond its former colonies in West and Central Africa. Over 30 African leaders, top French executives, and Africa’s wealthiest businessman, Aliko Dangote, attended the gathering. The summit comes as France faces growing challenges in its traditional areas of influence. Coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have led to the expulsion of French troops, while anti-French sentiment has risen in several former colonies. In July 2025, France also handed over its last major military base in Senegal, following President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s declaration that foreign bases conflicted with national sovereignty.
Macron played down the absence of leaders from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. He highlighted the presence of other key figures, including Senegal’s President Faye, and stressed that France’s disagreements were with governments, not the people. The choice of Kenya—a former British colony with less historical friction toward France—reflects Paris’s push to expand its partnerships. On the economic front, French shipping giant CMA CGM announced a €700 million investment to upgrade a terminal at Kenya’s Mombasa port. Kenyan President William Ruto aims to use the summit to attract French investors, particularly those linked to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Discussions on reforming the global financial system were also on the agenda.
The summit signals France’s attempt to rebuild influence through trade and investment rather than military presence. With major deals like CMA CGM’s port upgrade and high-level attendance, the event underscores Kenya’s role as a gateway for French business in East Africa. The outcomes could reshape France’s economic engagement with the continent in the coming years.
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