France is set to intensify efforts to rebuild and expand its influence across Africa as President Emmanuel Macron prepares to attend a major Africa summit in Nairobi next week amid growing diplomatic and military setbacks in several former French colonies in West Africa.
The summit, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in Kenya’s capital, marks the first major France-Africa gathering to be hosted in an English-speaking African country, signaling what analysts describe as a strategic shift in Paris’ engagement with the continent.
The event will bring together African heads of state, business leaders, and multilateral development institutions as France seeks to promote what the Elysee Palace has described as a “renewed partnership” with Africa.
The summit comes after a series of political and security setbacks for France in the Sahel region, where military-led governments in countries including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger expelled French troops and strengthened ties with Russian security partners.
France also lost control of its last major military base in Senegal after Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye declared that foreign military bases were incompatible with the country’s sovereignty.
Analysts say France is now repositioning itself toward African countries where it has less colonial baggage and broader economic opportunities.
“It does feel like a rebranding of how France is positioning itself on the continent,” said Beverly Ochieng, a senior analyst at Control Risks.
Macron, who came to power in 2017 promising to dismantle the long-criticised “Francafrique” system of influence between France and its former colonies, has increasingly focused on expanding ties beyond traditional Francophone partners.
His administration has pursued closer engagement with countries such as Rwanda and Algeria while also deepening cooperation with emerging African economies.
Economic partnerships are expected to dominate discussions at the Nairobi summit, particularly in sectors such as renewable energy, artificial intelligence, infrastructure, education, and digital innovation.
France has also intensified investment efforts across Africa. In 2024, France and Nigeria signed a €300 million investment agreement covering healthcare, transportation, renewable energy, and critical infrastructure projects.
Macron’s Africa trip will also include visits to Egypt and Ethiopia as Paris seeks to broaden its diplomatic and commercial footprint across the continent.
On the security front, France has expanded cooperation with non-traditional allies, including a defence agreement signed with Kenya last October covering intelligence sharing, maritime security, and peacekeeping collaboration.
However, France continues to face stiff competition from countries such as China and Gulf states, which have increased investments and influence across Africa through major infrastructure and financing deals.
Last year, the Kenyan government led by President William Ruto cancelled a $1.5 billion highway expansion project previously awarded to a consortium led by French construction giant Vinci SA and handed the deal to Chinese firms, citing concerns over financial risks.
Ruto, who will co-host the summit, is expected to use the platform to push for reforms to the global financial system aimed at easing debt burdens on African countries — a campaign France has pledged to support.
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