Macron Sparks Controversy at Africa Forward Summit

During the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron interrupted a session to request that audience members cease side conversations. The summit included over 30 African leaders, business executives, and young entrepreneurs.

The Incident

Video footage shows Macron walking onto the stage and taking the microphone from a speaker.

He stated that audience members holding side discussions were showing "a total lack of respect" and suggested that those wishing to talk should continue their conversations outside or in bilateral meeting rooms. The session was focused on culture and innovation with young entrepreneurs and artists.

Reactions

Videos of the incident were shared widely on social media, prompting mixed reactions.

• Fadzayi Mahere, a former Zimbabwean Member of Parliament, posted that Macron's behavior was condescending.
• Dr. Miguna Miguna, a Kenyan-Canadian lawyer, stated that "Africans don't need Macron's permission to speak in Africa."
• Thierno Mbaye, a history student in Dakar, Senegal, stated: "Just imagine what would happen if an African leader did the same thing in America or Europe," adding that Macron "acted like a schoolteacher scolding children."
• Danièle Obono, a French lawmaker for the France Unbowed party, posted on social media: "It's stronger than him: as soon as he sets foot on the African continent, he can't help but behave like a colonizer."
• Farida Nabourema, a Togolese activist, wrote in an open letter: "Pan Africanism is not a brand, Mr. Macron, neither is it a diplomatic posture."
• Beverly Ochieng, a senior analyst at Control Risks, said Macron's remarks raised questions about whether France's engagement represents genuine partnership or convenient rhetoric.
• Alioune Tine of Afrikajom Center suggested Macron's "true Pan-Africanist" comment may be a response to pro-Russian voices online.

Summit Context

Macron was in Kenya to promote a new partnership-based French policy toward Africa. During the summit, he announced $27 billion in investment. Earlier that day, he told students at the University of Nairobi that "Africa is succeeding" and argued for investment to strengthen sovereignty rather than dependence on aid. He also acknowledged France's financial constraints.

The summit occurs amid reduced French military presence in West Africa and a shift in diplomatic relations. An Ipsos survey commissioned by the French Foreign Ministry across nine African countries found that 74% of respondents had a positive image of France. Macron, who was born after the colonial era, pledged to reset French-African relations after his 2017 election.