Paris is struggling to rebuild trust among African young population that increasingly associates France with decades of interference and unequal partnership

The Africa Forward summit held in Nairobi, Kenya on May 11-12, 2026 was intended to mark a new era in French-African relations. Addressing an audience of African leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, diplomats, and members of civil society, French President Emmanuel Macron attempted to present France as a partner ready to move beyond the legacy of 'Francafrique' and embrace a relationship based on sovereignty, mutual respect, innovation, and economic cooperation.

However, beyond the carefully crafted diplomatic language and investment announcements, the summit revealed something far more significant: The depth of the growing credibility crisis facing France across large parts of Africa. Once considered the dominant external power in many francophone African countries, Paris now faces open hostility from growing segments of the public, especially among young people.

The summit in Nairobi therefore was also an attempt by France to reposition itself strategically at a moment when its traditional influence is being challenged.

The choice of Kenya as host country carried strong geopolitical significance. Since the creation of the France-Africa summits in 1973, these meetings had traditionally taken place either in France or former French colonies. Holding the event in an anglophone country was widely interpreted as a sign that Paris is now trying to expand beyond its historical francophone sphere after suffering major setbacks in the Sahel. Over the past few years, France has experienced a collapse of influence in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. French troops were expelled following military coups that were accompanied by powerful anti-French rhetoric and mass demonstrations demanding the end of the French military presence.

For many Africans, these events symbolized the exhaustion of an old political order associated with foreign interference, military dependency, and unequal partnerships inherited from the post-colonial era. Against this backdrop, Macron sought to promote the image of a modern France looking toward the future rather than the past. During the summit, he announced more than 23 billion in investments targeting key sectors: Renewable energy, AI, infrastructure, agriculture, and digital innovation.

French officials described the initiative as evidence of a renewed partnership designed to support African development and entrepreneurship while strengthening economic cooperation between both sides.

Yet despite these promises, skepticism remains widespread.

Many African observers believe France is not fundamentally changing its African strategy. Istead, it is adapting its communication in response to the loss of influence. According to several political analysts, Paris is replacing the traditional language of influence and security with softer concepts such as innovation, co-development, youth partnerships, and digital cooperation without necessarily changing the underlying power dynamics. The legacy of Francafrique continues to dominate discussions surrounding France's role in Africa. For decades, critics accused Paris of maintaining informal political networks, supporting authoritarian regimes, intervening militarily in African affairs, and preserving economic systems favorable to French strategic interests.

Although Macron has repeatedly claimed that he wants to break with these practices, many Africans remain unconvinced. The CFA franc - the common currency tied to the euro (and previously the French franc) and used in 14 West African states since 1945 - remains one of the most sensitive issues in this debate. Critics argue that the currency system still reflects a form of economic dependency that limits monetary sovereignty. While France insists reforms have been undertaken in recent years, the CFA franc continues to symbolize for many Africans the persistence of unequal relations between Paris and parts of the continent.

Military cooperation also remains controversial. Even as France attempts to redefine its image, it still maintains military partnerships and defense agreements across Africa. In Kenya itself, recent security agreements signed between Nairobi and Paris generated concern among sections of civil society and political activists.

Some Kenyan commentators warned that the country risks becoming a strategic relay for Western geopolitical interests in East Africa at a time when the region is becoming increasingly important in global power competition. The controversy intensified during Macron's appearance at the University of Nairobi, when the event was interrupted by noise and the French president abruptly demanded silence from the audience. The moment was quickly shared across social media platforms and triggered intense reactions online. For many African commentators, the scene reflects what they describe as a lingering paternalistic attitude from Western leaders toward Africa.

While supporters of Macron argue that the incident was exaggerated for political reasons, the reaction demonstrated how sensitive France's image has become in many African societies. This growing distrust cannot be understood without considering the wider geopolitical transformations taking place across Africa. The continent has become one of the central arenas of global competition between major powers. China has dramatically expanded its economic influence through infrastructure projects, trade, and investment. Russia has strengthened military and political ties with several African governments, particularly in the Sahel. Trkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and other emerging actors are also increasing their presence across multiple sectors. In this increasingly multipolar environment, France no longer enjoys the dominant position it once held.

Facing this reality, Macron declared during the summit that France no longer sees Africa as its traditional sphere of influence. The statement was intended to signal a diplomatic shift away from old colonial patterns.

However, for many Africans, these declarations arrived too late. Many young people in Africa increasingly believe that France is changing not out of conviction, but out of necessity, after losing strategic ground across the continent.

This new generation is also transforming the political landscape itself.

Highly connected through social media platforms such as TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, young Africans are increasingly shaping public debate independently of traditional political institutions or state-controlled media. Political narratives that once dominated diplomatic relations are now constantly challenged online by activists, journalists, influencers, and ordinary citizens. Every speech, gesture, and diplomatic symbol is instantly scrutinized and debated on a continental scale.

This evolution has profoundly changed the nature of France-Africa relations. In previous decades, relations between Paris and African countries were largely managed through presidents, diplomats, military agreements, and elite political networks. Today, African public opinion plays a far more central role. And this public opinion appears increasingly distrustful of French intentions.

For many young Africans, sovereignty is no longer limited to formal independence. It also means monetary independence, control over natural resources, military autonomy, and freedom from foreign political influence.

As a result, France now faces not only a geopolitical challenge but also symbolic and psychological challenges. Despite its financial power, diplomatic influence, technological capacity, and investment announcements, Paris is struggling to rebuild trust among populations that increasingly associate France with decades of interference and unequal partnerships.

The Nairobi summit ultimately exposed this contradiction. On one side, France attempted to project an image of partnership and modernization. On the other, many Africans continue to view French policy through the lens of colonial history, military interventions, and long-standing political influence.

In the end, the summit may be remembered less for its economic announcements than for what it revealed: The continent undergoing profound political and generational change and a former colonial power still struggling to redefine its place within that new African reality.