The two-day summit, titled “Africa Forward: Africa–France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth,” is being held on 11–12 May under the overarching theme “Africa Forward.”

It will bring together a wide range of African heads of state, French President Emmanuel Macron, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, senior officials from international and regional financial institutions, and representatives of African and French businesses.

The summit aims to strengthen the Africa–France partnership while advancing the integration of African priorities into global economic frameworks.

Discussions are expected to focus on financing development, energy transition, and digital connectivity across the continent.

El-Sisi is expected to deliver Egypt’s address during the summit and hold a series of bilateral meetings with African leaders and international officials on the sidelines of the event, the presidency said.

The summit comes as African countries push for greater representation in international financial institutions and seek more investment in infrastructure, renewable energy, and technology. At the same time, France looks to reshape its economic and political ties with the continent amid growing international competition in Africa.

Co-hosted by Kenya and France in Nairobi, the summit is being presented as a milestone in Africa–France relations, nearly a decade after Macron’s 2017 Ouagadougou speech outlining a reset in France’s engagement with Africa.

It is also the first Africa–France summit to be jointly hosted with an English-speaking African country, reflecting what organizers described as a more balanced partnership focused on mutual economic development, investment, and inclusive global governance.

Discussions are expected to centre on financing development, youth employment, food sovereignty, energy access, digital competitiveness, peace and security, and strengthening African mediation efforts and African Union initiatives.

The first day of the summit, themed “Inspire and Connect,” includes a business forum to promote France–Africa economic partnerships and private-sector investment projects, alongside events focused on youth, sports, and cultural and creative industries. The second day will focus on development finance and broader global challenges.

The summit builds on previous international meetings focused on Africa’s economic future, including the 2021 Summit on the Financing of African Economies in Paris, the 2023 New Global Financing Pact summit, the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, and the European Union–African Union Summit held in Luanda in November 2025.

Organizers said conclusions from the Nairobi summit are also expected to contribute to preparations for the upcoming G7 Summit, which France is scheduled to host in Evian in June.