By Benjamin Fox

 

NAIROBI, 13 May. - (ANA) - French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a €23bn investment in Africa focused on energy transition, digital and AI, the maritime economy and agriculture during a two day summit in Kenya held over Monday and Tuesday (11-12 May). 

 

Macron sought to position France as an “ethical partner” for African countries during the ‘Advance Africa’ summit, which was jointly hosted with Kenyan counterpart William Ruto and attended by more than 30 African leaders. 

 

The cash is composed of €14bn in private and public funds from French entities, and €9bn from African investors, focused on energy transition, digital and AI, the maritime economy and agriculture.

 

The projects would create 250,000 direct jobs in France and Africa, Macron said on Monday. 

 

The French president’s message of ‘equal partnership’, which EU officials have put at the heart of their own diplomatic outreach to African countries, was also taken up by Kenyan officials. 

 

Leaders also ratified a new defence cooperation agreement between Kenya and France that will allow French military personnel to operate in the country, alongside existing British and American forces. 

 

The summit marks a pivot for France towards Anglophone Africa, where it has traditionally had a limited diplomatic presence. 

 

But that didn’t stop accusations of ‘neo-colonialism’ against France in some quarters.

 

Kenya was a British colony until securing independence in 1963. 

 

For his part, Kenya’s president Ruto has sought to position himself as an important geopolitical ally for Europe, the United States and China. He has also signed bilateral defence and health agreements with the US. - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/13 May 2026 - - -