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World
President Macron and President Ruto co-host the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi, signaling a strategic shift in French-African relations.
A personal rapport and intersecting diplomatic interests have turned the partnership between Paris and Nairobi into a strategic bet for both sides, as French President Emmanuel Macron and his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto co-hosted the "Africa Forward" summit in Nairobi.
Speaking at the close of a business forum on May 11 at the University of Nairobi, where the summit opened, Ruto praised Macron's approach. "I congratulate President Macron for his courage in redefining the relationship between France and Africa," he said, according to *Jeune Afrique*. "We are no longer looking for aid or loans; we want balanced dialogue." The two leaders made a point of showcasing the strength of a partnership that has grown increasingly strategic, with Ruto telling Macron at the start of their talks, "There is a very special bond between us."
Since taking office in 2017, Macron has sought to build a new relationship with Africa, focusing on countries without a direct colonial legacy with France that also possess promising economic potential. Kenya, a major economic hub in East Africa with a maritime gateway on the Indian Ocean and a magnet for global tech companies, fit that profile perfectly, according to the magazine. In 2019, Macron became the first French president to make an official visit to Kenya since its independence in 1963, when Uhuru Kenyatta was president and Ruto served as vice president.
Seven years later, with Ruto now in power, the rapprochement between Paris and Nairobi has become tangible. While trade remains limited—Kenya ranked 102nd among France's trading partners in 2025—the number of French companies operating in the country has risen to 140, up from just 35 in 2012.
On the diplomatic front, the two nations have found broad common ground. Nairobi has pursued a multilateral approach for years, making it a key negotiating partner for Paris. A former French diplomat who served in Nairobi noted, "Even when he faces domestic criticism, William Ruto seems very comfortable on the international stage. He knows how to present himself as a partner capable of advancing his allies' interests in the continent, even if he sometimes has to play on more than one string."
Since taking power in 2022, Ruto has strengthened ties with major powers. In May 2024, Joe Biden received him at the White House, followed by a five-day official visit to China the next year. His relations with the Trump administration are also described as good, contrasting with the tense relationship between Washington and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. In Nairobi, Macron praised Kenya's "active multilateralism" under Ruto, and both leaders share a preference for "summit diplomacy." As one French diplomat put it, "They speak the same language when it comes to this type of event."
Nairobi hosts the largest United Nations headquarters in Africa, giving it special weight in international influence circles. Paris is also betting on cooperation with Kenya to push a shared agenda on climate issues and reform of the international financial system—a priority file for Ruto.
The two countries have also bolstered their security cooperation by signing a defense agreement in October 2025, ratified by the Kenyan parliament in early April. The pact covers intelligence sharing, maritime security cooperation, and peacekeeping operations, according to *Jeune Afrique*. This agreement reflects a reorientation of French strategy in Africa following the withdrawal of its forces from most bases in Francophone African nations. A French diplomat commented, "Kenya is still seen as a relatively stable country in a region experiencing widespread unrest."
For Macron, the partnership offers a chance to defend the results of his Africa policy, which aimed to move beyond the traditional image of France's relationship with its former colonies. For Ruto, the alignment helps boost his international profile a year before presidential elections in which he may seek a second term. This international standing carries added weight for the Kenyan president amid domestic economic pressures and declining popularity following criticism of his handling of protests in 2024 and 2025.
