Kenyan President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron have unveiled the Nairobi declarations from the Africa Forward Summit 2026 after lengthy deliberations.
During the Africa Forward Summit 2026, held in Nairobi, declarations were made on the global transformation of the African economy, technology, and geopolitics.
In the declarations, Africa-Europe relations will be strengthened through equal partnerships, industrialization, digital transformation, and financial reform.
“Gathered on the occasion of the Africa Forward Summit segment dedicated to peace and security issues on 12 May 2026 in Nairobi, considering that global instability, challenges to multilateralism and international law, and intensifying competition between powers threaten peace and security.” Africa Forward Summit 2026 declaration.
For the partnership to be effective, the leaders addressed how to develop Africa by expanding the African Continental Free Trade Area, advancing green industrialization, strengthening AI governance, advancing health sovereignty, and promoting climate-resilient agriculture.
UN Reform Declaration
Additionally, the French and Kenyan Co-presidents, alongside participating Heads of States and government, affirmed to align with the principle of multilateralism based on international law and the Charter of the United Nations in the partnership deals.
The leaders agreed in unison that there was an urgent need to reform the UN Security Council to ensure effective representation.
“We recognize the urgent need for a comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council to make it more effective and representative, in line with the objective of the Common African position, including the Ezulwini consensus and the Sirte Declaration, and reaffirm our determination to work together to the end,” part of the declaration read.
At the same time, the leaders at the Africa Forward Summit 2026 emphasized that the use of veto power should be exercised responsibly to strengthen the credibility and moral authority of the UN Security Council.
Further, permanent members of the Security Council were called upon to refrain from using the veto in cases of mass atrocities, genocides, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
A declaration on reforms to the Security Council would ensure the operationalization and sustainable funding of the UN.
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African Peace Operations
Co-chairs at the summit supported the operations in Africa aimed at maintaining peace and stability while respecting the sovereignty of African countries.
Interference and the privatization of security in Africa were rejected, with leaders affirming that Africans remain the main stakeholders in mediation during crises affecting African countries.
Additionally, the leaders called for the strengthening of institutional capabilities and collective security mechanisms to address conflicts that are ongoing in African regions.
Africa Forward Summit Partnership
Ruto and Macron, the summit’s co-chairs welcomed the French G7 presidency’s focus on development financing and international partnerships.
Citing the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the partnership was termed as valuable and aimed at increasing mutual resilience between the partnering countries.
In building a partnership of equals, the leaders affirmed that official development assistance （ODA） will remain a component of international support within the financial system to be adopted through the partnership.
According to the leaders, the new international partnership will be based on shared priorities and co-investment.
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All developments in African economies, including industrialization, export diversification, and integration into regional markets, will be supported through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) during the partnership.
In forming the partnership, the leaders agreed to unlock more capital for Africa by accelerating sustainable development and economic transformation.
Further, the partnership will focus on the creation of job opportunities for Africa to enable infrastructure development and strengthen public domestic resource mobilization.
Through the partnership, the leaders agreed to advance African financial architecture, welcoming the vision of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and other development partners to achieve the advancement.
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