President Emmanuel Macron met Kenyan leader William Ruto in Nairobi ahead of a two-day summit focused on economic development and cross-border investment. The summit — the first hosted in an English-speaking country — is being presented as a "report card" on Macron's Africa policy amid growing Russian and Chinese influence. Key commercial announcements include a €700 million CMA CGM agreement to build a new Mombasa port terminal and more than €1 billion in total investment deals, including Meridiam's wind-farm expansion.
Macron Lands in Kenya to Reset Ties, Announces €700M Mombasa Port Deal and €1B+ in Investments
French President Emmanuel Macron (L) and Kenyan President William Ruto (R) met on Sunday (Luis TATO)(Luis TATO/AFP/AFP)
President Emmanuel Macron met Kenyan President William Ruto in Nairobi on Sunday as part of a wider African tour aimed at renewing France's engagement with the continent after years of strained relations with former colonies.
Macron will co-host a two-day summit beginning Monday that brings together African leaders and business executives. The French presidency said the forum — the first of its kind to be held in an English-speaking country — will emphasize economic development, cross-border investment and private-sector partnerships.
Resetting Relations and Regional Context
Macron has presented the trip as a "report card on his Africa policy," seeking to show a renewed and modern partnership with African countries at a time when Russia and China are expanding their influence across the continent. Anti-French sentiment remains strong in parts of francophone Africa, and Paris has publicly pledged to move away from the old "Francafrique" approach that relied on political collusion and opaque financial ties to preserve influence.
Deals Announced
On Sunday, France's CMA CGM, the world's third-largest shipping company, signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Kenyan government to develop logistics and transport infrastructure. Macron said the deal is worth €700 million and will include construction of a new Mombasa port terminal capable of handling larger container ships, strengthening Kenya's role as a regional gateway for East and Central Africa.
Macron also announced that investment agreements exceeding €1 billion have been signed during the visit, including a Meridiam-led plan to expand Kenya's second-largest wind farm. These investments are framed as examples of private-sector-driven development and long-term infrastructure cooperation.
Next Stops
Macron arrived in Nairobi from Egypt and is scheduled to visit Ethiopia later in the tour, underlining France's broad regional outreach across North, East and Central Africa.
What This Means: The summit and accompanying investment deals are intended to showcase a recalibrated French approach focused on economic partnership, private-sector investment and reduced political interference.
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