President Alassane Ouattara has announced plans to open an Ivory Coast embassy in Nairobi following bilateral talks with his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit.

In a statement shared on X after the meeting on Sunday, May 10, 2026, Ouattara said the two leaders discussed ways to strengthen diplomatic, economic, and trade cooperation between the Ivory Coast and Kenya.

According to Ouattara, both countries agreed to deepen diplomatic engagement by enhancing their official presence in each other’s regions.

“In this regard, we agreed to strengthen our diplomatic presence by opening an Embassy of Côte d’Ivoire in Kenya,” he stated.

The move is expected to boost bilateral relations, trade opportunities, and political cooperation between the two African nations.

Talks on development financing

The two presidents also discussed issues surrounding the mobilisation of resources to finance development projects within Africa.

Ouattara said the meeting focused on the expectations of both countries from the Africa Forward Summit and broader continental economic priorities.

The leaders also explored ways of strengthening African cooperation and intensifying inter-regional trade and investment exchanges.

“This Sunday in Nairobi, on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit, I met with my brother, President William Ruto, to discuss the stakes of this gathering, the expectations of our respective countries, and the issue of mobilizing resources to finance their development,” Ouattara stated.

“We also addressed the prospects for developing economic and trade exchanges between our two Nations.”

Focus on African cooperation

Ouattara expressed support for stronger continental collaboration, saying African countries must work more closely to finance strategic infrastructure and accelerate economic development.

“I am delighted by our shared commitment to strengthening African cooperation, intensifying inter-regional exchanges, and mobilising more resources to finance the continent’s strategic infrastructure,” he stated.

Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi

The Africa Forward Summit has brought together heads of state, policymakers, investors, and business leaders in Nairobi to discuss Africa’s economic transformation and future global partnerships.

The summit is focusing on issues including infrastructure development, artificial intelligence, climate action, green industrialisation, digital transformation, and youth employment.

Kenya is hosting the event as part of efforts to position Nairobi as a key diplomatic and investment hub on the continent.

Several African and global leaders have arrived in Nairobi for the summit, including Emmanuel Macron, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, and Azali Assoumani.