France's President Emmanuel Macron participates in the youth session "Africa Forward, Creation in Motion" during the Africa Forward Summit at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, May 11, 2026. BRIAN INGANGA / AP
French President Emmanuel Macron announced €23 billion ($27 billion) of investment for Africa during a major summit on the future of the continent hosted by Kenya on Monday, May 11.
France has brought together dozens of heads of state and business leaders for the two-day Africa Forward summit in Nairobi, aimed at renewing France's engagement with the continent after years of strained ties with its former colonies.
The investments Macron announced include €14 billion in private and public funds from French entities, and nine billion euros from African investors, focused on energy transition, digital and AI, the maritime economy and agriculture.
They would create 250,000 direct jobs in France and Africa, Macron said. "We are not simply here to come and invest on the African continent alongside you – we need the great African business leaders to come and invest in France," he told the audience at Nairobi's convention center. "And that too is what underpins this relationship, now entirely free of hang-ups," he added.
