Nairobi, Kenya – May 13, 2026 — Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has firmly pushed back against criticism that African leaders were “summoned” by France to attend the Africa Forward Summit held in Nairobi on May 11–12.
The high-level gathering, co-hosted by Kenyan President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron, brought together more than 30 African heads of state, senior government officials, United Nations representatives, and prominent business leaders including Aliko Dangote. The summit focused on practical cooperation in investment, innovation, industrialization, green energy, critical minerals, and manufacturing, with French and European companies announcing significant private sector investment pledges.
Speaking in interviews, including one with journalist Larry Madowo, President Hichilema dismissed the narrative of a French-orchestrated “summoning.” He argued that the framing misrepresents the current geopolitical reality, in which European leaders are increasingly traveling to African soil for such engagements — a shift that underscores Africa’s growing influence in global diplomacy and economic partnerships.
“African leaders are here on their own sovereign terms to pursue mutually beneficial outcomes,” Hichilema emphasized. He highlighted the importance of focusing on concrete deliverables such as job-creating investments and industrialization initiatives rather than outdated perceptions of one-sided relationships.
The summit is part of an evolving Africa-France partnership that has moved away from traditional donor-recipient models toward business-oriented forums hosted on the continent. Organizers described the event as an opportunity to strengthen ties through innovation and shared growth, with particular emphasis on green energy transitions and value addition in Africa’s rich mineral resources.
While the gathering received praise from participating leaders for its outcomes, it also drew criticism from some quarters, with references to lingering “Françafrique” dynamics amid France’s reduced influence in parts of the Sahel region. Hichilema and other attending presidents countered that such engagements reflect Africa’s strategic agency rather than external imposition.
The Zambian leader’s remarks align with his administration’s broader approach of pragmatic international partnerships that prioritize investment, economic sovereignty, and African-led development priorities.
As Africa continues to assert itself on the global stage, events like the Nairobi summit illustrate both the opportunities and the sensitivities surrounding partnerships with traditional Western powers. Further details on specific investment agreements and follow-up actions from the summit are expected to emerge in the coming weeks.
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