During the Africa Forward summit held in Nairobi, French President Emmanuel Macron presented a renewed vision for relations between Europe and Africa, centered on shared prosperity, economic sovereignty, and joint investment initiatives.

In his remarks, the French leader stated that European and African interests are now closely interconnected, particularly in strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence, agriculture, and industry. According to him, strengthening Africa’s economic and technological sovereignty is also a major priority for Europe.

Emmanuel Macron emphasized that Africa’s economic success would create more opportunities for local populations while helping reduce forced migration and brain drain, challenges that affect both African nations and European countries alike.

The French president also called for a “collective awakening” in Euro-African relations, rejecting the idea of Europe acting merely as a donor or benefactor to Africa. He advocated for an “equal partnership” built on mutual respect, clarity, and committed cooperation between the two continents.

As part of this vision, Emmanuel Macron highlighted the crucial role of the private sector in Africa’s economic transformation. He announced the mobilization of €23 billion in private investments directed toward the continent.

According to figures presented during the summit, the commitments include €14 billion from French companies investing across African countries and €9 billion from African businesses and investors operating on the continent.

For the French president, this financial commitment sends a strong signal and demonstrates the ambition of making the Africa Forward summit a platform focused on concrete action and measurable economic results.