“Ingratitude” –

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, and Kenyan President William Ruto closed the Franco-African summit Africa Forward on May 12, 2026, in Nairobi. Macron stated that solving international crises without Africa would be a “moral and political mistake” at the end of the summit, inviting Ruto to the next G7 summit in France.

Earlier in the day, Ruto, the host of Africa Forward, criticized the diplomatic and financial inequalities faced by Africa globally, emphasizing the need for the continent’s voice to be heard, particularly at the UN Security Council.

Macron stressed the importance of Africa’s involvement in international crisis resolution, highlighting the adverse impact of events like the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the current blockage of the Strait of Hormuz on the continent. He expressed his desire for Africa to have a permanent seat at the UN Security Council and better representation in financial institutions.

At the upcoming G7 summit in Evian, France, Macron aims to include an African perspective in discussions on international crises. He and Ruto will work together to advance their joint project of reforming the international financial architecture to promote private investment in Africa.

Ruto highlighted the structural inequalities in the current international financial system, pointing out high borrowing costs, limited access to certain funds, and biases in credit rating systems that hinder investments, hindering Africa’s development.

Responding to questions about France’s colonial past, Ruto emphasized Africa’s determination not to be exploited further, signaling a shift towards self-reliance and control over its future.

Macron announced €23 billion in investments for Africa, with €14 billion coming from France, during the summit, emphasizing the importance of private investments over public aid for Africa’s development.

The concrete demonstration of a renewed relationship with Africa, especially in the wake of strains in former French colonies like the Sahel region, reflects Macron’s efforts to strengthen ties with the continent after past tensions and conflicts.

In an interview in Nairobi, Macron acknowledged the need to rethink France’s military presence in Africa earlier and expressed regret for not pushing for more development projects in Sahelian countries before the coups, which would have helped recover territories from terrorists.

While condemning the ingratitude and misinformation spread by military juntas towards French troops, Macron recognized the need for a more balanced and development-focused approach in African regions affected by security challenges.