Africa Forward Summit: Full List of Heads of State and Senior Officials Attending

Africa Forward Summit 2026 will bring together African presidents, global policymakers, investors, innovators, diplomats, and business leaders in Nairobi on May 11-12, 2026.

The summit, themed “Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth,” is co-hosted by President William Samoei Ruto and President Emmanuel Macron.

The event is historic because Kenya becomes the first Anglophone African country to host the summit since its launch in 1973.

Previous editions had only been held in France or Francophone African nations.

The Summit aims to strengthen cooperation between Africa and France through investment, innovation, trade, climate action, technology, healthcare, and sustainable development.

“Africa is no longer content with aspiration alone. We are advancing with clarity and resolve,” President Ruto said ahead of the summit.

President Macron also described the Nairobi meeting as a major turning point in Africa-France relations.

“We wish to build partnerships on an equal footing, founded on shared interests and tangible results,” Macron said.

Also Read:Nairobi Africa-France Summit Breaks Historical Pattern with First-Ever Anglophone Host Nation

Summit Heads of State and Leaders Expected in Nairobi

Several African leaders and global figures are expected to attend the summit.

William Samoei Ruto – President of the Republic of Kenya
Emmanuel Macron – President of France
António Guterres – Secretary-General of the United Nations
Évariste Ndayishimiye – President of Burundi
Ismaïl Omar Guelleh -President of Djibouti
Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi -President of Egypt
John Dramani Mahama -President of Ghana
Dharambeer Gokhool – President of Mauritius
Mohammed VI – King of Morocco
Daniel Chapo – President of Mozambique
Bola Ahmed Tinubu – President of Nigeria
Paul Kagame – President of Rwanda
Bassirou Diomaye Faye – President of Senegal
Aziz Akhannouch – Prime Minister of Morocco
Juan Manuel Santos -Former President of Colombia

African Union and International Organizations

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala – Director-General of the World Trade Organization
Makhtar Diop -Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation
George Elombi – President and Chairman of Afreximbank
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus – Director-General of the World Health Organization
Wamkele Mene – Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat
Jean Kaseya – Director-General of Africa CDC
Sania Nishtar – CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Peter Sands – Executive Director of The Global Fund
Amandeep Singh Gill – UN Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies

AI, Technology and Innovation Leaders to Attend

Strive Masiyiwa – Founder of Cassava Technologies
Yann LeCun -Executive Chairman, Advanced Machine Intelligence at Meta
Arthur Mensch -Co-Founder and CEO of Mistral AI
Kate Kallot – Founder and CEO of Amini
Jade Abbott – Chief Technology Officer of Lelapa AI
Karim Beguir – Co-Founder and CEO of InstaDeep
Ory Okolloh – Partner at Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures

Business Leaders and Investors Joining the Forum

Aliko Dangote – Founder and CEO of Dangote Group
James Mwangi – Managing Director and CEO of Equity Bank
Paul Russo – Group CEO of KCB Group
Jeremy Awori – CEO of Ecobank Group
Carole Kariuki – CEO of KEPSA
James Mworia – CEO and Managing Director of Centum Investment Company
Fatoumata Bâ – Founder and Executive Chair of Janngo Capital
Jean-Pascal Tricoire – Chairman of Schneider Electric

Also Read:UN Chief António Guterres to Visit Kenya Ahead of Africa Forward Summit

Seven Key Themes to Shape Discussions

AI and digital technologies
Energy transition and green industrialisation
Reform of international financial architecture
Blue economy
Resilient health systems
Peace and security
Sustainable agriculture

Nairobi at the Centre of a New Africa-France Partnership

The summit positions Nairobi as a growing diplomatic and innovation hub in Africa.

It also reflects France’s effort to deepen ties beyond its traditional Francophone partners and engage more with Anglophone African economies.

“The relationship between France and Africa cannot merely be declared, it must be built on the ground by innovators, entrepreneurs and creatives,” President Macron said.

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