By Desmond Nleya
The Africa Forward Summit concluded in Nairobi on Tuesday with African leaders calling for a new era of equal partnerships, mutual respect, and greater African representation in global decision-making bodies.
Speaking during the summit co-hosted by William Ruto and Emmanuel Macron, Kenya’s president declared that Africa had moved beyond dependence on Europe and was now seeking partnerships built on equality and shared interests.
Ruto renewed calls for urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council, arguing that it was unacceptable for Africa — home to nearly 1.5 billion people and 54 sovereign nations — to remain without permanent representation on the council.
France, whose influence in parts of Africa has weakened in recent years, used the summit to present a renewed approach to engagement with the continent. Macron said the future relationship between Africa and Europe should focus on peace, prosperity, and strategic independence for both regions.
The French leader added that stronger cooperation could help rebuild the global multilateral system, which he said has been weakened by growing geopolitical tensions and instability.
During the summit, Macron also announced investment commitments worth €23 billion aimed at supporting projects across Africa in sectors such as artificial intelligence, energy, and agriculture.
