Kenya is set to make history as the first non-Francophone African nation to host the Africa-France Summit in May 2026, breaking the tradition of holding the summit only in France or Francophone African countries since its inception in 1973.
In a statement dated Saturday, January 17, 2026, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, announced his planned visit to Paris to meet with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, to plan the summit and ensure its success.
“H.E. Dr. Mudavadi departs for Paris today for an official visit, where he will meet with Mr. Jean-Noël Barrot to deliberate on how to make the Summit one-of-a-kind,” read part of the statement.
During the visit, he will also sign an agreement with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and hold meetings with French companies, including Airbus, Thales, and CFAO, to strengthen Kenya-France cooperation ahead of the summit.
Kenya’s Historic Hosting of the Africa-France Summit
Hosting the Africa-France Summit in Nairobi is a historic milestone for Kenya, making it the first non-Francophone African nation to welcome the event.
Since its inception in 1973, the summit has been held exclusively in France or in Francophone African countries.
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Mudavadi stated that Kenya’s relationship with France has grown from traditional aid-led interactions into strategic partnerships focusing on trade, education, peace and security, health, climate change, and technological innovation.
He added that this has deepened ties and mutual interests between the two nations.
According to Dr. Mudavadi, hosting the summit in Nairobi underscores President William Ruto’s vision of positioning Kenya as a continental hub for diplomacy, trade, and sustainable development.
“Kenya’s status as a diplomatic and environmental leader in Africa is a culmination of efforts by the country, led by President William Ruto, to position our country as the continent’s hub,” stated Mudavadi.
The upcoming Nairobi summit is expected to focus on climate change, environmental challenges, international financial architecture, trade innovation, digital transformation, energy, AI, industrialization, the blue economy, and sustainable development.
The summit will include African and French heads of state, business leaders, young entrepreneurs, civil society, investors, and creative artists.
Non-African guests, such as India’s PM Narendra Modi and Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
About Africa-France Summit
The Africa-France Summit, also known as the France-Africa Summit or Sommet Afrique-France, is a longstanding diplomatic forum that fosters relations between France and African nations.
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Initiated in 1973, it has traditionally been held in France or Francophone African countries, focusing on political, economic, and cultural ties.
Over the years, it has evolved to address contemporary issues such as security, development, and youth empowerment, amid criticisms of France’s historical influence in former colonies through Françafrique.
Although the summits are not annual, they occur periodically, with formats adapting to global shifts.
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