Over 30 African Leaders Gather in Nairobi for Landmark Africa Forward Summit

Over 30 African Leaders Gather in Nairobi for Landmark Africa Forward Summit

Nairobi, Kenya — May 12, 2026 

More than 30 African heads of state and government have converged on the Kenyan capital for the inaugural Africa Forward Summit, a high-level diplomatic and economic forum co-hosted by President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The two-day event, taking place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre and the University of Nairobi, brings together African leaders, prominent business executives and international figures including UN Secretary-General António Guterres. It marks France’s first major Africa-focused summit hosted in an English-speaking country on the continent.

Prominent figures attending include Presidents Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal, Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire, Brice Oligui Nguema of Gabon, Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, Joseph Nyuma Boakai of Liberia, and Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi. Delegations led by prime ministers from Morocco and Mauritius have also joined the gathering.

Discussions are centred on practical cooperation in energy, artificial intelligence, health, agriculture, the blue economy, industrialisation and security. President Macron announced nearly 23 billion euros in new investments for Africa and urged a fundamental reset in Africa-Europe relations, shifting away from traditional aid models toward equal partnerships.

President Ruto emphasised the importance of moving from loans and grants to genuine investment and mutual opportunity. He told delegates that Africa’s main challenge is not liquidity but risk architecture, positioning the continent as an active shaper of the global order.

The summit comes as France seeks to strengthen ties across Africa beyond its traditional Francophone sphere. Bilateral agreements between Kenya and France were signed ahead of the main sessions, covering transport, energy, digital innovation and infrastructure projects, including upgrades to Nairobi’s commuter rail system.

As the summit concludes, organisers are expected to issue a joint communiqué detailing concrete outcomes and commitments. The high-profile gathering has thrust Nairobi into the global spotlight, reinforcing Kenya’s role as a leading diplomatic and economic hub in Africa.