Africa Forward Summit opens in Nairobi to discuss France-Africa partnerships

The Africa Forward Summit opened on May 11, 2026, in Nairobi, Kenya, focusing on economic growth, cross-border project financing, and international cooperation between France and African nations. The opening ceremony was led by Kenyan Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot.

Representing the African private sector, Baïdy Agne, president of Business Africa, called for a new era of balanced partnerships. Agne emphasized four key pillars for continental development: natural capital, human capital, financial capital, and commercial capital. He noted that Africa holds over 30% of the world's mineral reserves and highlighted the potential of the continent's demographic dividend, suggesting the median age of 19 could add $47 billion to the African GDP. Additionally, he pointed to the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to significantly boost exports.