PS Sing’oei: Africa Forward Summit was meant to recast Africa-France relations
By Martin Oduor, May 13, 2026Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’oei, has defended the significance of the recently concluded Africa Forward Summit, describing it as an attempt to fundamentally redefine relations between Africa and France around “quality, respect and solidarity.”
Speaking during a TV interview on Wednesday night, May 13, 2026, Sing’oei said the summit sought to move beyond the historical imbalance that has often shaped ties between Europe and Africa, framing the gathering instead as a platform for equal partnership and economic transformation.
“The understanding that France has something to offer to the continent was part of the conversation,” Sing’oei said.
“What we sought to achieve was to look forward in terms of what those critical factors are that can rapidly accelerate Africa’s industrialisation.”
The summit, co-hosted by presidents William Ruto and Emmanuel Macron, focused heavily on youth, technology and industrial growth, according to Sing’oei.
Among the announcements was a 35 million euro commitment toward the construction of a science and engineering complex aimed at strengthening capacity in artificial intelligence, smart engineering and climate-smart agriculture.
Sing’oei said the investment reflected a broader recognition that Africa’s future competitiveness would depend on innovation and skills development rather than raw resource extraction alone.
“We are talking about building capability,” he said, pointing to the emphasis placed on engineering and emerging technologies during the summit discussions.
The PS also highlighted the signing of an energy agreement between Rubis Energy Kenya and Kenya Airways, describing it as part of a wider push to deepen commercial cooperation between African and European partners.
But beyond the deals and announcements, Sing’oei argued that the summit carried symbolic importance for the continent’s place in global affairs.
“This summit turned out to be an incredible platform for the assertion of sovereignty,” he said.
According to Sing’oei, African leaders approached the discussions not as recipients of aid but as representatives of nations with “capabilities and resilience,” seeking reforms to what he described as an unfair global financial system.
“What we need is for Europe and the north to unshackle Africa with respect to the financial architecture to allow Africa to access capital based on fairer and more equitable terms,” he said.
His remarks reflect a growing sentiment among African governments that the continent’s economic ambitions are being constrained by high borrowing costs, unequal lending structures and limited access to development financing despite abundant natural and human resources.
The summit’s message, Sing’oei suggested, was ultimately about repositioning Africa not as a peripheral actor in global politics, but as a partner demanding mutual respect and shared prosperity.