French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled a sweeping €23 billion investment package and declared that France is entering a new phase in its relationship with Africa, one centred on mutual investment, industrial cooperation and economic transformation at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi
Speaking before dozens of African heads of state, policymakers and business leaders gathered in the Kenyan capital, Macron indicated that the initiative would combine €14 billion in private and public financing from French institutions with an additional €9 billion from African investors.
The funds will target strategic sectors including energy transition, digital technology and artificial intelligence, maritime development and agriculture.
According to Macron, the investments are expected to generate approximately 250,000 direct jobs across Africa and France, underlining what he described as a more balanced and reciprocal partnership.
“We are not simply here to come and invest in the African continent alongside you. We need the great African business leaders to come and invest in France.”
Emmanuel Macron
This announcement comes as France seeks to rebuild its influence on the continent following years of strained relations in parts of West Africa, where military-led governments in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have severed defence ties with Paris and ordered the withdrawal of French troops.
Macron insisted that France is repositioning itself as a long-term economic partner and argued that Europe offers a more dependable alternative in an increasingly competitive global environment.
He also renewed calls for reform of the global financial system, stressing that Africa’s youthful population and entrepreneurial energy should attract significantly more private investment. “There is no reason today for there to be so little private investment coming into a continent as full of energy and youth as yours,” he said.
Macron also noted that, the restitution of African cultural artefacts taken during the colonial era had become “unstoppable,” following the recent passage of legislation by the French parliament to facilitate the return of looted works.
As the summit continues in Nairobi, African leaders are expected to press for partnerships that deliver concrete gains in industrialisation, job creation and financial reform, signalling a growing determination to shape the continent’s development on its own terms.
Macron Pushes Youth and Tech Investment at Africa Forward Summit
Earlier, Kenyan President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly spearheaded a high-level gathering attended by hundreds of young participants from across Africa and France.
The youth engagement forum, held under the theme “Future Makers in the Wake of Digital Disruption Due to Artificial Intelligence,” brought together entrepreneurs, students, and technology stakeholders to explore how emerging technologies are reshaping economies and labour markets across the continent.
This event forms part of a broader diplomatic and economic push by France to reposition its engagement in Africa, with a particular focus on strengthening ties with Anglophone countries such as Kenya and expanding cooperation beyond its traditional Francophone partners.
President Macron used the platform to highlight France’s renewed focus on youth development, signalling a shift toward deeper collaboration with young Africans in innovation and technology.
He indicated that, France would support young people in developing their skills and realising their ambitions, including those with dual citizenship, as part of a wider strategy to broaden its partnerships across the continent.
President Macron also acknowledged the changing dynamics of France’s engagement in Africa, noting that while past cooperation was largely centred on former colonies, new partnerships were emerging with countries like Kenya taking on a more prominent role.
Addressing the impact of artificial intelligence and digital disruption, Macron stressed the importance of building infrastructure that can support technological growth and economic transformation across regions.
“When you speak about AI, a lot of us are affected. We have to build much nuclear facilities in order to able to be able to deploy electrification of our common use in Europe and Africa.”
Emmanuel Macron
Macron also underscored the importance of strengthening education systems and ensuring that African talent is nurtured and retained through improved learning partnerships and institutional collaboration.
“This is what we want to do to schools in the continent, how to educate more talents to make sure that they will be retained here with the best education system, the best partnership that they will stay and help the country to develop and help the continents to develops.
“We will expand this partnership between our universities and African Universities. We will accelerate this kind of investment and partnership.”
Emmanuel Macron
Kenyan President, William Ruto, added that his administration has also prioritised changing the education system to lay the ground for aspiring young talents.
“There was a time when education was all about academic and what you can cram and what you can do. Today, we are changing that to be more experiential so that we get more skills, more competence and that is why 60 percent of our education targeting stem subject that will inform what these grate young leaders are talking about.”
William Ruto
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