The recent “Africa Forward Summit” in Nairobi was marketed as the dawn of a “new model of partnership” between France and Africa.

The pledges were accompanied by calls for stronger African representation at the UN Security Council and reforms to global lending.

Someone wrote that since civilisation began in Africa, the cradle of mankind, no one should lecture Africa on morality and culture.

The recent “Africa Forward Summit” in Nairobi was marketed as the dawn of a “new model of partnership” between France and Africa.

The old historical debate about Africa and Europe refuses to go away, despite repeated dramas of friendship and brotherhood.

Co-hosted by President William Ruto and President Emmanuel Macron, the inaugural summit marked a deliberate pivot in France-Africa relations.

At some point, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda was stranded outside for a minutes before he was allowed in, while Chief Executives of some global companies were locked out.