France's President Emmanuel Macron (second from right) and Kenya's President William Ruto (second from left) sing and dance with choir members upon their arrival ahead of the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi on Monday. LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP
France is seeking to rebuild and strengthen its partnerships with African nations as it reassesses its strategy on the continent following strained relations with several West African countries, analysts said.
For the first time, France hosted the Africa Forward Summit in an English-speaking country, a move experts described as a strategic attempt to regain influence in Africa.
The two-day summit in Kenya's capital Nairobi from Monday to Tuesday drew participation from business leaders and some 30 heads of state from Africa, with France stressing "equal partnerships" with Africa, and announcing investments worth $27 billion for the continent.
The shift comes amid France's deteriorating ties with parts of West Africa, driven by rising anti-French sentiments, military coups, and growing calls to end colonial-era security arrangements in recent years.
