Several African presidents and senior government officials have arrived in Nairobi ahead of the Africa Forward Summit, which is expected to bring together regional and global leaders for high-level discussions on development, governance and economic cooperation.
The dignitaries began arriving in Kenya on Saturday evening, with French President Emmanuel Macron touching down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Sunday evening.
Among the African leaders already in Nairobi are Julius Maada Bio, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Alassane Ouattara, Brice Oligui Nguema, Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Africa Forward Summit begins in Nairobi with arrival of Presidents and delegates. Photo: Courtesy.
Also received in Nairobi were Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Moroccan Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch and Burundi Vice President Jean Jacques Bouya.
The Africa Forward Summit is set to take place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre from Monday, May 11, to Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
According to Kenya’s State Department for Foreign Affairs, the two-day summit will convene more than 30 Heads of State alongside over 1,500 business and economic leaders drawn from across Africa and other parts of the world.
Held under the theme Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth, the summit will be jointly hosted by William Samoei Ruto and Emmanuel Macron.
The forum is expected to focus on Africa’s innovation potential and explore collaborative solutions centred on multilateral cooperation, investment and strategic partnerships between African countries and France.
Discussions at the summit are also expected to shape a joint declaration that will present Africa’s priorities ahead of the G7 meeting scheduled for June 2026 in Évian, France.
Speaking at State House on Sunday evening, President Ruto said Kenya was privileged to host the high-level gathering.
For the first time in history, a non-Francophone African country is hosting the Africa-France summit, marking a departure from the tradition where the event is either held in France or in Francophone African states.
Kenya’s selection to host the summit is seen as a significant shift, reflecting broader engagement with non-Francophone countries in shaping Africa-France relations and cooperation frameworks.
