President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron championed a new Africa-France partnership at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, emphasizing mutual respect and shared responsibility over dependency. Kenyan President William Ruto called for a new partnership between Africa and France, moving away from aid towards a relationship based on equality and shared responsibility. Ahead of G7 talks, Ruto and Macron advocated for Africa's financial sovereignty and a greater role in global decision-making. African leaders and representatives of the French Republic adopted the Africa Forward 2026 Summit Declaration in Nairobi, establishing a partnership agenda focused on peace, agriculture, health, energy, digital transformation, and economic growth.








