Africa Forward Summit 2026 is a milestone event held in Nairobi from May 11 to 12,2026 co-hosted by President William Ruto and President Emmanuel Macron. The main discussion points for the event will be how Africa will attract more investors into various sectors like manufacturing,energy,technology,infrastructure and logistics while maintaining the economic gain within the continent.
The event has attracted several head of states and governments who arrived in Nairobi on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Among them are France President Emmanuel Macron,United Nations Secretary General-Antonio Guterres,Bassirou Diomaye Faye (Senegal),General Brice Oligui Nguema (Gabon),Julius Maada Bio (Sierra Leone),Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Nigeria),Nyuma Boakai (Liberia) Alassane Ouattara (Cote d’Ivoire).
The event will bring together investors,African and French leaders to have candid discussions on how trade will be improved,how to attract more investments and industrialization.
Prior to the summit President Ruto and President Emmanuel Macron of France had bilateral talks which led to the Kenya and France signing 11 deals focusing on strengthening cooperation on different important sectors.
However,the summit has been disregarded by other Kenyan leaders saying that Kenya was given the chance to host the event since there is division among African Francophone nations. Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka has told President William Ruto not to celebrate the hosting of the event since the government claims to uphold democracy but country still faces serious over human rights and freedom of worship.
BY EMMANUEL KIRUI