Kenya President Pushes for New Economic Order as African Leaders Gather in Nairobi

Speaking during the opening session at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, co-chaired with French President Emmanuel Macron, Ruto said the summit offers a strategic platform to redefine Africa’s engagement with global partners and accelerate the continent’s development agenda.

“The Africa Forward Summit presents a unique opportunity for Africa and France to forge a forward-looking partnership that delivers shared progress while advancing the continent’s long-term economic transformation,” Ruto said.

The Kenyan leader outlined several priorities that African nations must pursue to unlock the continent’s vast potential.

These include domestic mobilisation of resources for development, reform of the international financial system, expansion of transport and logistics infrastructure, and improved continental connectivity.

Ruto also emphasised the importance of energy transition, green industrialisation, and investment in youth skills development to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence-led transformation across Africa.

“The times before us demand strong cooperation, renewed multilateralism and partnerships grounded not in hierarchy, but mutual respect and shared responsibility,” he said.

In a pointed message on Africa’s evolving global relationships, Ruto stressed that future partnerships should move beyond dependency and aid-driven models.

“Enduring partnerships must not be built on dependence but on sovereign equity, not on aid or charity but mutually beneficial investments, and not on extraction or exploitation but on win-win engagements,” he stated.

The high-level summit brought together a wide range of African leaders and international partners.

Among those present were Paul Kagame, Alassane Ouattara, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Hakainde Hichilema, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Antonio Guterres.

Other attendees included heads of government, vice-presidents, ambassadors, development partners and representatives from across Africa and beyond.

The summit is expected to focus on strengthening Africa-Europe cooperation, financing development, infrastructure investment, climate action and innovation-driven growth as African nations push for a stronger voice in global economic governance.