In a significant strategic shift, France is reorienting its relationship with Africa as its influence in traditional Francophone partners wanes. Faced with military expulsions, declining business presence, and rising anti-French sentiment in the Sahel, Paris is now prioritizing engagement with English-speaking nations like Nigeria and Kenya. The upcoming France-Africa Summit in Nairobi signals this strategy, with potential focus on green energy, AI, and sustainable agriculture. Analysts suggest this pivot is driven by both commercial interests, with Nigeria and South Africa already being major trading partners, and a desire to forge relationships unburdened by a colonial past. This move allows France to pursue new economic opportunities in dynamic markets. It also allows Paris to bolster its geopolitical standing in strategically vital regions like East Africa.
African Business
