French President Emmanuel Macron gave a telling off to a noisy audience during a presentation at the University of Nairobi. The event was part of the “Africa Forward: Inspire and Connect” business forum where he was also joined by his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto.French President Emmanuel Macron joined legendary Kenyan marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge for an early morning jog in Nairobi on Monday.France’s President Emmanuel Macron, left, and Kenya’s President William Ruto, right, participate in the youth session “Africa Forward, Creation in Motion” during the Africa Forward Summit at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)France’s President Emmanuel Macron participates in the youth session “Africa Forward, Creation in Motion” during the Africa Forward Summit at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)France’s President Emmanuel Macron, left, and Kenya’s President William Ruto, right, participate in the youth session “Africa Forward, Creation in Motion” during the Africa Forward Summit at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)France’s President Emmanuel Macron participates in the youth session “Africa Forward, Creation in Motion” during the Africa Forward Summit at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)French President Emmanuel Macron gave a telling off to a noisy audience during a presentation at the University of Nairobi. The event was part of the “Africa Forward: Inspire and Connect” business forum where he was also joined by his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto.French President Emmanuel Macron joined legendary Kenyan marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge for an early morning jog in Nairobi on Monday.France’s President Emmanuel Macron, left, and Kenya’s President William Ruto, right, participate in the youth session “Africa Forward, Creation in Motion” during the Africa Forward Summit at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)France’s President Emmanuel Macron, left, and Kenya’s President William Ruto, right, participate in the youth session “Africa Forward, Creation in Motion” during the Africa Forward Summit at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)France’s President Emmanuel Macron participates in the youth session “Africa Forward, Creation in Motion” during the Africa Forward Summit at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)France’s President Emmanuel Macron participates in the youth session “Africa Forward, Creation in Motion” during the Africa Forward Summit at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)France’s President Emmanuel Macron, left, and Kenya’s President William Ruto, right, participate in the youth session “Africa Forward, Creation in Motion” during the Africa Forward Summit at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)France’s President Emmanuel Macron, left, and Kenya’s President William Ruto, right, participate in the youth session “Africa Forward, Creation in Motion” during the Africa Forward Summit at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)France’s President Emmanuel Macron participates in the youth session “Africa Forward, Creation in Motion” during the Africa Forward Summit at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)France’s President Emmanuel Macron participates in the youth session “Africa Forward, Creation in Motion” during the Africa Forward Summit at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)NAIROI, Kenya (AP) — France is pitching what it says is a new model of partnership with African countries at a summit that begins Monday in Kenya as it completes a military withdrawal from West African countries that has been widely seen as marking declining influence on the continent.But Paris is expected to use the two-day Africa Forward Summit, which it is co-hosting, to push a new Africa policy that focuses more on English-speaking countries and offers what it calls a “partnership of equals.” Its new defense agreement with Kenya marks the direction it hopes to go.France has long maintained a policy of economic, political and military sway over its former colonies dubbed Françafrique, which included keeping thousands of troops in the region. But after years of criticism from leaders and opposition parties in those countries over what they described as a demeaning and heavy-handed approach, France has been forced to withdraw most of those troops.The summit — France’s first in an English-speaking African country — will be attended by more than 30 heads of state and government, including from Francophone countries. On his arrival Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron said France may disagree with West African governments but “never disagrees with the people.”
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