Macron Le Rejet Tries to Revive Relationship with Kenya in Hopes of Reestablishing Presence in Africa

“Macron Le Rejet turns towards Kenya in hopes of regaining a foothold in Africa”. Despite needing to be gentle, the title from the South African media IOL summarizes the perspective of some foreign press on the Africa-France summit opening on Monday, May 11 in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.

The first of its kind organized in a non-Francophone country, the “Africa Forward” summit embodies the French president’s desire, expressed since 2017, to break away from France’s colonial past by getting closer to English-speaking African countries to establish partnerships of “equality to equality.”

This desire has become a necessity as France’s popularity is “on the decline” in West Africa, euphemistically noted by The East African, which highlights that Niger, Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Senegal have all terminated military cooperation with France in recent years.

“For France, the Nairobi summit is an opportunity to materialize a strategic pivot towards English-speaking economies, from Ethiopia to South Africa to Nigeria, whose demographic and economic weight now outweighs that of the former colonies,” summarizes the Francophone agency Afric Telegraph.

Keeping a Low Profile

A rapprochement in which Nairobi benefits. Since coming to power in 2022, Kenyan President William Ruto has continuously worked to promote his country on the continental stage. For Kenya, the summit is seen as a “show of strength,” according to the Kenyan newspaper Daily Nation.

For France, the exercise is more delicate. “Losing ground in French-speaking Africa, its historical sphere of influence, Paris will try to keep a low profile at a time when its position has never been so challenged,” Financial Afrik, a panafrican financial information journal, summarizes.

At the heart of the summit expected to be attended by around thirty heads of state and about 2,000 business leaders, France aims to address issues important to many African countries, such as international institutional reform, debt sustainability, or financing for climate transition.

In Kenya, South Africa, or Ethiopia, French diplomatic teams have emphasized a message of reassurance. In South Africa, the News24 media outlet highlights the discussions planned on reforming access to capital, an issue France hopes to raise at the upcoming G7 summit in June.

In Ethiopia, The Reporter’s weekly website stresses the issue of returning cultural objects looted during colonization. “Every time African authorities have requested it, we have established mechanisms for the restitution of artifacts,” underscores Ambassador Alexis Lamek in Addis Ababa to the media.

General Skepticism

Despite these efforts, some critics continue to blame the lasting impact of France on security chaos in the Sahel and other regions where it has left a colonial footprint, notes The East African. The media also mentions the recent accusations of France attempting to destabilize Madagascar, accusations dismissed by France.

In line with Russian propaganda, voices also accuse France of supporting jihadist groups increasing attacks in Mali. “France has spent nearly a decade fighting terrorist groups in Mali, lost 58 men and women, and dedicated significant resources to supporting the Malian government before withdrawing at Bamako’s request,” reminded the French Embassy in South Africa.

However, despite Paris’ goodwill, some media outlets remain skeptical. “Expelled from the Sahel: what is France looking for in Kenya?” asks suspiciously the website of the Turkish public television, TRT World, closely linked to power. “Kenya does not share a colonial history with France, but its partnership with Paris leads to questioning whether it has learned the lesson on how France treats its former colonies,” continues the site.

For Afric Telegraph, conversely, “the relocation of the summit to Nairobi signifies a deep transformation.” “It remains to be seen whether this final summit of Macron’s term will manage to outline a lasting framework, likely to be picked up by his successor, or if it will remain as the last attempt of a term marked by African setbacks,” concludes the media.