Macron's Kenya visit puts France's Africa strategy under fresh scrutiny
French President Emmanuel Macron met multiple African leaders in Kenya to set out a new approach for the continent built around investment, security and energy. The meetings are part of a strategy to fill the gap left by France's retreat across the Sahel. Competition with Ankara, Beijing and Moscow remains the underlying theme.
Macron's visit to Nairobi served as the summit moment of a high-level forum hosted in East African capitals. The president held bilateral talks with the leaders of Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Tanzania on investment, education and the digital economy.
On the economic track, the talks focused on expanding the role of French firms in renewable-energy and telecoms projects. Macron renewed his call for a global infrastructure investment fund and said agreement had been reached on broadening guarantees through the European Investment Bank and the private sector.
On security, talks covered maritime safety in the Indian Ocean and a new training programme for fragile Sahel states. Analysts say that the growing presence of Turkey, China and Russia in the same region is accelerating France's repositioning. The delegation's contacts with Ethiopia and Tanzania will continue in the coming days.
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