France is promoting what it describes as a new model of partnership with African nations at a summit that began on Monday in Kenya, as it completes a military withdrawal from West African countries, a move widely interpreted as a sign of its declining influence on the continent.
New Africa Policy
Paris is expected to use the two-day Africa Forward Summit, which it is co-hosting, to advance a revamped Africa policy that places greater emphasis on English-speaking nations and offers what it calls a "partnership of equals." A recently signed defense agreement with Kenya exemplifies the direction France hopes to pursue.
Historically, France maintained a policy of economic, political, and military dominance over its former colonies, known as Françafrique, which involved stationing thousands of troops in the region. However, following years of criticism from leaders and opposition parties in those countries regarding what they perceived as a demeaning and heavy-handed approach, France has been compelled to withdraw the majority of those forces.
Summit Details
The summit, which marks France's first such event in an English-speaking African country, is being attended by more than 30 heads of state and government, including representatives from Francophone nations. Upon his arrival on Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that France may disagree with West African governments but "never disagrees with the people."
Defense Agreement Controversy
Kenya's recently ratified defense agreement with France has faced criticism from civil society groups, who argue that it grants excessive immunity from local law to French troops. This is a sensitive issue in Kenya, where a similar agreement with the United Kingdom has left a legacy of crimes against locals that are difficult to prosecute.
At a time when many African nations, particularly in the Sahel region, are reducing or expelling foreign military presences in a bid to reclaim their sovereignty, Kenya is hosting a growing international military presence.
The Kenya-France Defense Cooperation Agreement was signed on October 29, 2025, by Kenya's Defense Minister Soipan Tuya and French Ambassador to Kenya Arnaud Suquet, and was ratified by parliament on April 8. That same month, Kenya also ratified defense agreements with countries including the Czech Republic, China, and Italy.
Defending the agreements, parliament defense committee chair Nelson Koech stated that Kenya's treaties with advanced militaries provide training and intelligence-sharing opportunities that will strengthen its defense capabilities. Koech emphasized that the agreements do not represent a "surrender of sovereignty," adding that newer pacts ensure foreign troops will be tried in Kenya for serious crimes such as murder.
A month before the summit, a contingent of around 800 French troops arrived in Kenya aboard a navy ship.
The agreement grants visiting French forces primary jurisdiction over their personnel for on-duty offenses, echoing broad legal protections in past UK pacts that shielded British soldiers from Kenyan courts amid scandals such as the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru and the deadly 2021 Lolldaiga ranch fire. A British soldier is currently facing extradition after Kenyan courts found him answerable for Wanjiru's death, who was last seen alive in his company near the British troops' training grounds in Nanyuki, central Kenya.
