French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that the relationship between France and African nations has fundamentally changed under his administration. Speaking to Radio France Internationale at the close of the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi, the president highlighted a shift from a colonial‑era dynamic to what he described as a “partnership of equals.”
Macron noted that the nine years since he took office have produced “profound changes” in France’s ties with the continent. He said the goal of his presidency has been to “reinvent” those ties, stressing that France now recognises Africa as a partner rather than a client. The president cited several concrete initiatives as evidence of the new approach: joint investment projects, updated security agreements, the transfer of vaccine technology and the restitution of looted artefacts.
The summit, the first Africa Forward event held in an English‑speaking African country, was presented as a platform for private‑sector collaboration. Macron announced that the meeting had mobilised €23 billion in private investment – €14 billion from French companies and €9 billion from African investors – which he said would create jobs and improve livelihoods. He added that the event brought together French and African entrepreneurs for the first time, underscoring a move from aid to co‑investment.
While acknowledging that France has reduced its development aid to Africa as part of broader fiscal consolidation, Macron argued that African governments now demand investment rather than budgetary assistance. He quoted Kenyan President William Ruto’s view that “it’s investment that African countries want,” and positioned the summit’s financing as a response to that demand.
On security, Macron said France’s military footprint on the continent has been re‑scaled. Troops have been withdrawn from several former colonies in West and Central Africa, including Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad. He described current security partnerships as “much healthier,” suggesting that a large foreign military presence can fuel anti‑French sentiment. Nevertheless, he maintained that France will continue to provide military assistance when requested, rejecting calls for a complete pull‑out.
The president criticised the military junta in Mali for aligning with Russian private militias and for severing ties with France. He expressed sympathy for the Malian people, who he said are suffering from the ongoing conflict, and blamed misinformation and “ingratitude” from the coup leaders for the deterioration of relations. Macron also dismissed the notion that anti‑French feeling is widespread among African youth, attributing it instead to external agitators.
In diplomatic matters, Macron urged African‑led mediation in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s conflict with the M23 rebel group and called for a cease‑fire in Sudan’s civil war. He cautioned against replicating the United States’ sanctions on Rwanda, arguing that dialogue remains the most effective tool for peace. The president also highlighted France’s intention to amplify Africa’s voice in global crises, noting that the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz – a key shipping route – will be a priority for the upcoming G7 summit in France.
Macron concluded by reaffirming his “immense ambition” for Africa, describing the continent as “the youngest and most dynamic” in the world and urging French youth to see their future intertwined with it. He summed up his vision: “Africa will succeed, and we will succeed alongside it.”
