African leaders and France have adopted the Africa Forward 2026 Summit Declaration, setting out a new framework for cooperation built around growth, innovation, security, financial reform and a shift from aid-based relations to partnerships of equal value.
The declaration, adopted in Nairobi on May 12, 2026, positions Africa not merely as a market or recipient of development support, but as a strategic partner in production, innovation and global economic leadership.
Under the theme “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnership for Growth and Innovation,” the declaration calls for a partnership grounded in mutual respect, shared responsibility and co-development.
It comes at a time of shifting global power dynamics, rising geopolitical tensions, economic volatility and growing pressure on Africa to secure stronger representation in global decision-making.
A major focus of the declaration is peace and security. African nations and France committed to supporting African-led solutions through the African Union’s Peace and Security Architecture and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2719, which provides for more predictable and sustainable financing of AU-led peace operations.
The declaration also calls for reform of the UN Security Council to make it more representative, in line with Africa’s demand for equitable representation under the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration. Leaders also rejected external interference and the privatization of security by outside actors whose interests do not align with African stability.
On economic transformation, the declaration emphasizes agriculture, industrialization and value addition. It calls for Africa to move away from raw commodity exports by strengthening agro-processing, cold chains, logistics and regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Health sovereignty is also central to the agreement. The leaders committed to strengthening Africa’s capacity to produce vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and medical technologies, while supporting pooled procurement and stronger regulatory systems across the continent.
The declaration further commits Africa and France to green industrialization, renewable energy, clean cooking, grid interconnection, green hydrogen and local beneficiation of critical minerals. It stresses that Africa’s natural resources must support local manufacturing, value addition and job creation.
Digital transformation and artificial intelligence also feature strongly. The declaration calls for investment in broadband, data centres, cloud infrastructure, African language models, local datasets and responsible AI governance. It frames Africa’s digital future around sovereignty, reduced dependence on concentrated technological power and stronger African ownership of data and innovation systems.
On financing, the declaration calls for reform of the international financial architecture, including better representation for Africa at the IMF, improved access to concessional finance, debt restructuring, fairer global taxation and stronger action against illicit financial flows.
The declaration also calls for more blended finance, public-private partnerships and innovative financing tools to mobilize private capital for infrastructure, energy, agribusiness, healthcare, tourism and manufacturing.
In its call to action, the Nairobi Declaration urges governments, the private sector, development partners and civil society to work together to deliver sustainable growth, resilience and shared prosperity.
At its core, the declaration signals a political attempt to redefine Africa-France relations from a traditional development model to a partnership of equals, with Africa asserting its place in global governance, industrial production, digital innovation and economic transformation.
Follow our social media pages for breaking news updates, in-depth stories and videos.
news@nairobilens.ke
