France Convenes African Leaders in Nairobi, Pivoting from Colonial Past
France hosted a top-level meeting with leaders of seven African countries in Nairobi, with Paris signalling reduced military presence and a shift to economic partnerships built on equal footing.
Heads of state from Kenya, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Rwanda, the Republic of Congo and Djibouti took part. France said it had redefined its priorities after closing its remaining Sahel military bases over the past three years; infrastructure investment, renewable energy and the digital economy were placed at the top of the cooperation agenda.
Kenya's president called for a more symmetric trade architecture between the European Union and the African Union. The French president said Paris aimed to offer 'value-added partnerships' that compete with Chinese and Gulf investment by quality rather than by volume. Migration cooperation and security questions were also raised at the table.
The share of French-speaking nations among Africa's fifty-four countries is shrinking and former colonial ties are increasingly being replaced by commercial relationships. The meeting is seen as preparation for the EU-AU summit due in Brussels in June. The African Union secretary-general called the gathering 'the beginning of a new language'.
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