{"id":35261,"date":"2026-05-13T07:06:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T03:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gbc1.net\/?p=35261"},"modified":"2026-05-20T18:33:57","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T14:33:57","slug":"africa-forward-summit-2026-mobilizes-e23b-and-creates-250000-jobs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gbc1.net\/index.php\/2026\/05\/13\/africa-forward-summit-2026-mobilizes-e23b-and-creates-250000-jobs\/","title":{"rendered":"Africa Forward Summit 2026 Mobilizes \u20ac23B and Creates 250,000 Jobs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Africa Forward Summit 2026 (#AFS2026<\/a>) took place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 11 to 12 May 2026. It represents a rebranding of the Africa-France Summit by moving away from the bad connotation associated with Fran\u00e7afrique<\/em>, when France used to support despotic regimes as long as they were protecting France’s interests, more often than not at the expense of their own country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The previous edition took place in Montpellier in 2021; it saw very few heads of state or government and focused on youth and civil society. This edition is the first time the Summit is held in an Anglophone country, as France attempts to extend its influence in Africa, after suffering setbacks in certain Sahel states, whose leaders were notably absent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This edition also saw record participation as the number of registrations exceeded the 7,000-mark. Previous editions would usually attract between 2,000 and 3,000 attendees. In addition, more than 30 heads of state or governments attended in person. From an attendance perspective, #AFS2026<\/a> was a resounding success.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Family Photo of Africa Forward Summit 2026<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

For starters, France’s President Emmanuel Macron announced that the Summit has mobilized for Africa EUR 23 billion in investment, which will support 250,000 jobs in Africa and France. The figure includes EUR 9 billion of intra-Africa investments, and EUR 14 billion coming from France’s public and private funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To support France’s commitment to an ‘equal-to-equal relationship’ with Africa, Macron underscored the new law that will facilitate the restitution of looted cultural artefacts to Africa. However, the question of reparations for slavery was not discussed to the distress of certain Africans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moving past France’s colonial past, Macron criticized China for its predatory logic. China extracts raw materials from Africa, performs the value addition in China, before exporting the finished goods to Africa. This model cannot continue and is unsustainable, and France would be willing to carry out more local beneficiation in Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Macron Delivers Keynote at Africa Forward Summit 2026<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Kenya’s President William Ruto expressed appreciation for France’s its new model of partnership with Africa. In addition, he thanked Macron for championing the reform of the International Financial Architecture so that Africa can access financing at reasonable rates. Macron promised to raise the issue at the upcoming G7 Summit in Evian, France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In front of UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres, Ruto reiterated Africa’s demand for a permanent presence on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). He underlined that the composition of the #UNSC<\/a> no longer represents the reality on the ground in the world today. SG Gutteres echoed that he is personally in favor of reforms at the UN to reflect the world of today, but the final decision lies with the UNSC.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Africa Forward Summit 2026 at Kenya International Convention Center<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

As far as flagship projects are concerned, CMA CGM will upgrade Kenya’s seaports, while Alstom will extend the Nairobi Commuter Rail Network. TotalEnergies plans to invest another EUR 2 billion over the next three years across Africa on new clean energy projects, in addition to the massive LNG project in Mozambique. Proparco pledged EUR 500 million in deals targeted at African SME and sustainable agriculture, while Ecobank committed USD 3 billion to support African SME and boost intra-African trade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

AFD provided EUR 500 million for the development of sports facilities and sports in general, including a new partnership with NBA Africa. As part of the M300 initiative and in collaboration with WB and AfDB, AFD and EU DFI enabled #ElectricityAccess<\/a> for 600,000 Africans across 750 localities, mostly in rural areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (#EACOP<\/a>) is a marquee project of France within the East African Community. As the majority and controlling shareholder with 62% stake, TotalEnergies is spearheading the regional pipeline, which will link the oil fields on the shores of Lake Albert in Uganda to the seaport of Tanga in Tanzania. At the start of 2026, the project was 80% complete and is expected to become operational by the end of 2026 with a throughput of more than 200,000 barrels per day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In view of the Middle East conflict and resulting energy crisis, Aliko Dangote proposed to build the regional oil refinery for East Africa in Mombasa, after Tanzania displayed some hesitation. The refinery would mirror the one in Lagos with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd), and its cost is estimated to be in the range of USD 16 to 20 billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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