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BBC Europe • May 12, 2026 06:52

France seeks to move beyond colonial ties by meeting African leaders in Kenya

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In a first since these meetings started in the 1970s, this move reflects a change in France's thinking.

Story Timeline

Fri 10:48 - France 24

Ahead of Nairobi summit, France highlights youth, innovation and 'huge diaspora' investing in Africa

Sat 08:21 - France 24

After losing influence in West Africa, France seeks a regional reset at Kenya summit

Sun 05:38 - Al Jazeera English

Macron tours East Africa amid push to redefine France’s role in Africa

Sun 12:54 - France 24

Macron heads to Kenya to push new France-Africa partnership

Sun 13:17 - DW All

Africa summit in Kenya: France seeks new partners

Sun 13:17 - DW Top

Africa summit in Kenya: France seeks new partners

Sun 13:17 - DW World

Africa summit in Kenya: France seeks new partners

Sun 13:17 - DW World

France turns to Africa for strategic partnerships

Mon 02:10 - France 24

Macron opens Africa summit in Kenya with push for new France-Africa partnership

Mon 04:45 - Al Jazeera English

Risks and rewards in France-Kenya partnership

Mon 05:57 - France 24

Watch live: Macron meets young entrepreneurs at Africa Forward summit

Mon 09:56 - France 24

Macron in Kenya for summit showcasing Paris’s business ties with Africa

Mon 10:04 - Euronews

Macron dances to ‘Hakuna Matata’ during welcome ceremony in Kenya

Mon 12:00 - UN News All

UN launches major Nairobi expansion as Guterres highlights Africa’s growing global role

Mon 12:53 - Al Jazeera English

Macron yells at audience for silence during Nairobi University presentation

Mon 13:11 - France 24

'I will make order': Macorn calls for silence at Africa summit

Mon 14:08 - Euronews

'I will make an order': Macron asks audience to leave if they want to chat during Nairobi summit

Mon 14:23 - Euronews

France's President Emmanuel Macron defends Europe in Africa and urges investment

Mon 15:01 - France 24

Africa Forward Summit in Kenya: France offers ‘third way’ in Africa’s AI race

Mon 15:53 - France 24

Macron announces €23 billion investment in Africa at Kenya summit

Mon 16:10 - BBC Headlines

'Total lack of respect': Macron interrupts speaker to ask for silence

Mon 18:37 - France 24

Kenya summit represents 'demarcation point': France 'wants to do business' with African continent

Mon 18:40 - France 24

Exclusive: Emmanuel Macron interview on FRANCE 24, Tuesday May 12 at 9pm

Mon 19:04 - France 24

'Macron always been a strong believer in the importance of Africa as a partner for the future'

Mon 20:37 - France 24

France woos Anglophone Africa at a summit in Kenya

Mon 21:58 - Fox News

Macron takes the stage uninvited at Africa summit to scold crowd for 'total lack of respect'

Tue 06:52 - BBC Europe

France seeks to move beyond colonial ties by meeting African leaders in Kenya

Tue 07:14 - France 24

Africa Forward Summit Day 2: Macron pitches new French partnership model

Different Perspectives

Al Jazeera English

3 articles

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12:53

Macron yells at audience for silence during Nairobi University presentation

French President Macron pauses a speaker mid-presentation at Nairobi University to demand silence from the audience.

04:45

Risks and rewards in France-Kenya partnership

Nairobi's partnership with Paris has sparked criticism, with many worried Kenya's interests will be subordinated.

05:38

Macron tours East Africa amid push to redefine France’s role in Africa

Paris seeks to repair economic and security ties while countering rising anti-French sentiment across Africa.

BBC Headlines

1 article

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16:10

'Total lack of respect': Macron interrupts speaker to ask for silence

The French president stood up during a conference in Kenya to tell the audience to quieten down, saying it was “impossible” for speakers to be heard.

DW All

1 article

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13:17

Africa summit in Kenya: France seeks new partners

Following a withdrawal from the Sahel region, France is seeking to expand its geostrategic influence in Africa by seeking allies. The first Africa Summit, to be held May 11–12 in …

DW Top

1 article

▼

13:17

Africa summit in Kenya: France seeks new partners

Following a withdrawal from the Sahel region, France is seeking to expand its geostrategic influence in Africa by seeking allies. The first Africa Summit, to be held May 11–12 in …

DW World

2 articles

▼

13:17

Africa summit in Kenya: France seeks new partners

Following a withdrawal from the Sahel region, France is seeking to expand its geostrategic influence in Africa by seeking allies. The first Africa Summit, to be held May 11–12 in …

13:17

France turns to Africa for strategic partnerships

Following a withdrawal from the Sahel region, France is seeking to expand its geostrategic influence in Africa by seeking new allies. The first Africa Summit in Kenya is intended to …

Euronews

3 articles

▼

14:23

France's President Emmanuel Macron defends Europe in Africa and urges investment

Macron, leading the two-day summit aimed at renewing France's engagement with Africa, said Europe was instead promoting "a strategy of autonomy" for both continents.

14:08

'I will make an order': Macron asks audience to leave if they want to chat during Nairobi summit

French President Emmanuel Macron interrupted a speaker at the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi to call for silence from a noisy audience, telling attendees to leave the room if they …

10:04

Macron dances to ‘Hakuna Matata’ during welcome ceremony in Kenya

French President Emmanuel Macron was welcomed with music, dancing and performances in Nairobi ahead of the Africa-France summit.

Fox News

1 article

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21:58

Macron takes the stage uninvited at Africa summit to scold crowd for 'total lack of respect'

French President Emmanuel Macron interrupted a youth-focused session at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, calling the disruption "a total lack of respect."

France 24

14 articles

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07:14

Africa Forward Summit Day 2: Macron pitches new French partnership model

Day two of the Africa Forward summit in Kenya brings together leaders and top officials from more than 30 countries from across the continent as President Emmanuel Macron pitches a …

20:37

France woos Anglophone Africa at a summit in Kenya

In tonight's edition, French President Emmanuel Macron urges investment in Africa as he co-hosts an economic summit in Kenya. Also, we take a closer look at the cost of some …

19:04

'Macron always been a strong believer in the importance of Africa as a partner for the future'

Yinka Oyetade is pleased to welcome Paul Melly, Consulting Fellow of the Africa Programme, Chatham House. Emmanuel Macron is co-hosting the Africa Forward Summit in Kenya, the first time France …

18:40

Exclusive: Emmanuel Macron interview on FRANCE 24, Tuesday May 12 at 9pm

At the conclusion of the Africa Forward Summit, French President Emmanuel Macron will answer questions from FRANCE 24, RFI and TV5Monde journalists in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. Watch the …

18:37

Kenya summit represents 'demarcation point': France 'wants to do business' with African continent

Nadia Massih is pleased to welcome Dr. Douglas Yates, Author, Political Scientist and Professor and at the American Graduate School of International Relations and Diplomacy. President Emmanuel Macron is co-hosting …

15:53

Macron announces €23 billion investment in Africa at Kenya summit

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday announced €23 billion investment in Africa focused on energy transition, digital and AI, the maritime economy and agriculture. Macron was attending the two-day Africa …

15:01

Africa Forward Summit in Kenya: France offers ‘third way’ in Africa’s AI race

This Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron is in Nairobi, where he is co-hosting the Africa Forward Summit with his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto – a summit focused on trade, investment …

13:11

'I will make order': Macorn calls for silence at Africa summit

The French president is currently in #Nairobi for the Africa Forward summit, a gathering meant to showcase France’s new policy for the continent. It is the first time the summit …

09:56

Macron in Kenya for summit showcasing Paris’s business ties with Africa

French President Emmanuel Macron and more than 30 African leaders kicked off a summit in Kenya on Monday aimed at diversifying Paris' partnerships on the continent and clinching new investment …

05:57

Watch live: Macron meets young entrepreneurs at Africa Forward summit

President Emmanuel Macron on Monday aims to promote France’s new approach to Africa at the inauguration of the Africa Forward Summit in Kenya, which is being held for the first …

02:10

Macron opens Africa summit in Kenya with push for new France-Africa partnership

French President Emmanuel Macron began a visit to Kenya on Sunday ahead of the Africa Forward Summit, where he will promote France’s new approach to Africa based on partnership rather …

12:54

Macron heads to Kenya to push new France-Africa partnership

President Emmanuel Macron has chosen Kenya as the stage for a renewed French push to strengthen ties with Africa through business, diplomacy and culture. The Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi …

08:21

After losing influence in West Africa, France seeks a regional reset at Kenya summit

Seeking to rebuild French influence in Africa after a series of setbacks in former West African colonies, France will co-host a summit in Kenya next week aimed at strengthening political, …

10:48

Ahead of Nairobi summit, France highlights youth, innovation and 'huge diaspora' investing in Africa

In the run-up to the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi, Mark Owen is pleased to welcome Éléonore Caroit, France's deputy minister for Francophonie, International Partnerships and French Citizens Abroad. France …

UN News All

1 article

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12:00

UN launches major Nairobi expansion as Guterres highlights Africa’s growing global role

The United Nations on Monday launched a major expansion of its Nairobi headquarters, with Secretary-General António Guterres and Kenyan President William Ruto marking what officials described as a significant milestone …