France is set to host a landmark ‘Africa Forward Summit’ in Anglophone Africa, marking the first such event in nearly a decade and signalling a renewed partnership with the continent, Conseiller Afrique to French President Emmanuel Macron, Jérémie Robert, has disclosed.
Mr Robert described the summit, opening on Monday, May 11, as “the summit of a renewed partnership between France and African countries”.
He emphasised that while France has convened Africa summits since the 1970s, the majority were held in Francophone nations, making this the first in an Anglophone country.
“This summit reflects the diversity, vitality, and dynamism of our partnership,” Robert said. “We are looking forward, not back.”
The two-day event will include multiple segments aimed at promoting economic, cultural, and youth engagement.
The first day will focus on a business forum, branded Inspire and Connect, bringing together African and French leaders, CEOs, and entrepreneurs—including young and female innovators, medium-sized enterprises, and major corporations.
“The objective is to inspire and connect,” Robert explained. “Through speeches, performances, and interactions, we aim to facilitate investment deals and partnerships that will create value in Africa.”
He added that the forum anticipates major announcements across diverse sectors, with French companies investing alongside African actors.
President Macron will participate in a concluding segment of the forum, unveiling the overall economic deals.
Sports will also feature prominently, highlighting France’s use of sports as a tool for inclusion, development, and business, including support for major African events such as the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal.
Cultural collaboration forms another key pillar of the summit. France will promote African cultural entrepreneurship and creative industries, expanding African content through initiatives such as the merger of French network Canal Proust with MultiChoiceDSTV.
Mr Robert emphasised that these efforts are intended to generate employment, stimulate economic growth, and enhance African cultural visibility.
The summit will also address cultural restitution, a policy initiated by President Macron. French law has been amended to permit the return of artefacts and human remains illegally acquired during colonisation, a precedent now followed by Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Restitutions to Guinea and Senegal will be highlighted.
Youth engagement is central to the summit, with 500 young representatives attending from across Africa.
Discussions with the Presidents of France and Kenya will focus on the impact of artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and Africa’s global influence.
The second day, May 12, will be dedicated to a heads-of-state summit, expected to host around 30 African leaders from across the continent.
Topics will include stimulating investment, improving financing for African economies, and supporting African-led solutions to peace and security challenges.
Afternoon roundtables will address agriculture, health, rural economies, and artificial intelligence.
The summit will conclude with a high-profile youth concert in partnership with Trace TV, celebrating African music and culture and reinforcing the summit’s focus on connecting with the continent’s next generation.
Robert described the summit as “a forum for dialogue, innovation, and partnership at multiple levels—from CEOs to heads of state, from youth to cultural entrepreneurs—demonstrating the renewed and forward-looking relationship between France and Africa”.
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