Online Reporter
Paul-Bertrand Barets, French Ambassador to Zimbabwe
NEARLY a decade after President Emmanuel Macron’s Ouagadougou speech laid the foundations for a renewed relationship between France and the African continent, Kenya and France are co-organising the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi from May 11-12, 2026.
This renewal is built upon a partnership of equals, rooted in shared interests and driven by tangible results. Over the past nine years, this spirit has translated into decisive structural changes, starting with ending the permanent French military presence and closing bases in Senegal, Chad, Gabon and Côte d’Ivoire, while prioritising training courses through 21 regionally-oriented national schools.
France has also supported greater representation of the African continent in international forums and mobilized partners by organising summits on the economic growth of the continent (Conference on the Financing of African Economies in 2021 and Paris Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in 2023), fighting global warming (One Forest Summit in Gabon in 2023), strengthening food security (Food and Agriculture Resilience Mission in 2022), and producing vaccines in Africa (Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation in 2024).
A vital dimension of this renewed commitment lies in France’s choice to confront its colonial past with transparency and a profound will for dialogue. Significant memory work has been undertaken alongside countries like Rwanda, Senegal, and Cameroon, while an unprecedented movement for the restitution of cultural heritage has been initiated with nations such as Benin and Algeria. This approach reflects a desire to move forward together, while building a future based on mutual respect.
In Zimbabwe, this commitment has materialised through concrete and diverse initiatives. The revitalisation of the Great Zimbabwe UNESCO World Heritage site, supported by a €4 million donation investment, stands as a testament to our cultural cooperation.
Economically, the French development bank Proparco has intensified its support for the agricultural sector through significant credit facilities and guarantees for local banks, while Expertise France has implemented dedicated funding to strengthen the honey industry. These examples illustrate a dynamic partnership that directly supports the private sector.
The Africa Forward Summit, hosted and co-chaired for the first time in an English-speaking country, embodies this profound transformation. It provides a unique platform to highlight the commitment of France, Kenya, and their partners to fostering mutual investment and financing innovative solutions for common challenges, including health, food sovereignty, and digital competitiveness.
By bringing together heads of state, business leaders, artistes, and the youth, this summit will consolidate the lasting ties between Africa and France through a shared, forward-looking vision. I look forward to the participation of Zimbabweans .
Paul-Bertrand Barets is the French Ambassador to Zimbabwe
