France seeks new allies in Anglophone Africa to offset its retreat in the Sahel. The Africa-Forward summit, co-chaired by Macron and Ruto in Nairobi, is the first of its kind that Paris organizes in a non-traditional English-speaking country. Over two days, the Franco-African partnership will be redefined, with an emphasis on security, investment, and green energy.
Green energy and submarine cables: the technological bet 🌍
The French plan includes financing solar and wind farms in Kenya, as well as laying new submarine fiber optic cables connecting the Indian Ocean to Europe. The goal is to displace Chinese competitors in the digital infrastructure sector. It also plans to train local forces with satellite surveillance systems, a resource France already tested in Chad and Mali with mixed results.
Paris's new friend: the one who doesn't speak French 😄
Macron discovered there is life beyond Francophone countries. Now he tries to convince Kenyans that the baguette and Kenyan coffee are the perfect combination. The funny thing is, while Paris sells cooperation, in Abidjan they still remember that the CFA franc is not negotiable. But hey, at least here no one will ask him to speak French with an Ivorian accent.