President Ruto Calls for Shift from Aid to Investment at Africa Forward Summit - May 2026

At the Africa Forward Summit 2026, Kenya's President William Ruto called for a fundamental shift in Africa's economic approach, advocating for a move away from aid dependency. He stated that true partnerships should be founded on sovereign equality, not dependence, during the summit in Nairobi. French President Emmanuel Macron humorously described Kenyan President William Ruto as "crazy" for accepting to co-chair and co-organize the significant summit. The governments of Kenya and France are also collaborating to combat gender-based violence, while leaders from various nations issued a joint statement outlining their resolutions following the conclusion of the conference.