French President Emmanuel Macron is facing backlash after he interrupted a panel at the Africa Forward Summit in Kenya to demand silence from the audience.
Mr. Macron stormed the stage to rebuke audience members for what he called a “total lack of respect”, accusing them of disrupting speakers during a presentation by artists and young entrepreneurs. He had earlier described himself as a “Pan-Africanist” during a news conference.
The summit is meant to showcase France’s new policy for the continent — a shift from a former colonial power seen as dominating to what Paris describes as a partnership of equals.
On Tuesday (May 12, 2026) Mr. Macron announced a $27 billion investment into various sectors in Africa, including energy, artificial intelligence and agriculture.
Videos of Mr. Macron’s heated intervention on Monday (May 11, 2026) quickly spread across social media, drawing a mix of mockery, praise and criticism.
