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President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron during the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi. [File, Standard]
Last month, more than 30 African Heads of State and Government gathered in Nairobi alongside investors, entrepreneurs, development institutions and representatives of the French private sector. The significance of the gathering was not the event itself. It was what it revealed about where influence is shifting in a changing world.
The ability to convene has become one of the most important currencies in contemporary international affairs.
Military power and economic size remain important. Yet increasingly, influence is measured by a country’s capability to bring diverse actors together around shared interests, build coalitions and create pathways for cooperation. Countries that can build bridges are becoming more valuable than ever.
