French President Emmanuel Macron has begun a diplomatic tour of East Africa as France seeks to strengthen political, economic and security ties across the continent following setbacks in several former West African colonies.
The three-country visit started in Egypt on Saturday (9 May) and will continue in Kenya and Ethiopia. In Nairobi, Macron will co-host the “Africa Forward” summit alongside African leaders and business executives, with multiple commercial agreements expected between French and Kenyan companies.
Key developments include:
- France aims to expand cooperation beyond its traditional postcolonial influence.
- The Kenya summit focuses on trade, investment, entrepreneurship and climate cooperation.
- Macron will later attend peace and security discussions at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.
- Paris is also seeking to respond to growing Russian and Chinese influence across Africa.
The visit comes as France reassesses its Africa policy following deteriorating relations with several Sahel states after recent military coups.
ℹ️ Al Jazeera
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