French President Emmanuel Macron stopped a youth forum at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi on Monday, May 11, 2026, due to excessive noise, calling it a "total lack of respect."

• President Macron seized the microphone to address the disruptions during a panel discussion with President William Ruto.
• The incident occurred during the Africa Forward Summit, an event designed to foster a new partnership between France and Africa.
• This summit is historically significant as Kenya is the first non-Francophone nation to host it since its inception in 1973.

French President Emmanuel Macron participated in a morning run with Kenyan marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge in Nairobi. The run occurred ahead of the AfricaForward Summit.

• Eliud Kipchoge, the world marathon record holder, led the run.
• French President Emmanuel Macron was the special guest.
• The pair briefly visited State House Primary School, where they interacted with students.

Kenya and France are set to partner in advancing the digital economy, recognizing its potential to drive cross-border trade and create opportunities for African youth.

• The partnership aims to increase investment in digital technology to benefit the continent's majority youth population.
• Key figures include Kenya's ICT CS William Kabogo and France's Minister for AI and Digital Technologies Clara Chappaz.
• A notable initiative involves the Kenya Development Corporation pushing for policy changes to protect intellectual property and support digital startups, alongside France's commitment to peer-to-peer learning opportunities for tech-savvy youth.

France, through shipping giant CMA CGM, will invest €700 million (Ksh106 billion) to modernise and expand terminals at the Port of Mombasa in Kenya.

• Investment Amount: €700 million (Ksh106 billion)
• Key Organizations: French shipping giant CMA CGM and the Kenyan government
• Purpose: To expand port capacity, modernise freight management, and improve inland logistics to strengthen regional trade corridors and Kenya's connectivity to global markets.