DRC: Participation of 119 Congolese entrepreneurs announced for the Africa-France Summit scheduled in Nairobi

Kinshasa, May 5^th, 2026 (CPA) – The participation of more than 119 business leaders, entrepreneurs and young people from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been announced for the “Africa Forward” Summit on partnerships between Africa and France, scheduled for May 11 and 12, 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya, according to a statement consulted on Tuesday. “France and Kenya will jointly organize the ‘Africa Forward’ Summit: partnerships between Africa and France for innovation and growth, which will bring together the French and Kenyan Heads of State, as well as African Heads of State and Government in Nairobi on May 11^th and 12^th, 2026. The DRC will be represented by a delegation of more than 119 people, including business leaders, entrepreneurs, members of civil society and young people,” the joint statement from the organizers read, presented to the press by the French Embassy in the DRC during a videoconference held in Kinshasa. The decision to organize this summit was confirmed by the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and the President of the Republic of Kenya, William Samoei Ruto, during a meeting held in New York on September 24 on the sidelines of the high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly. According to the source, the Africa Forward Summit is part of the renewal of relations between France and African countries, based on mutually beneficial partnerships. Furthermore, this high-level meeting will aim to identify solutions, drawing on the actions of governments, international organizations, the private sector, young entrepreneurs and civil society, to address issues of common interest for France and African countries.

Reform of the international financial architecture

The summit will notably focus on the reform of the international financial architecture, energy transition, green industrialization, the blue economy, connectivity, artificial intelligence (AI), sustainable agriculture and health. The summit will open on May 11, 2026 with a business forum which, according to the source, will promote projects, innovations and ideas from French and African private sectors, and will highlight success stories in the thematic areas of the summit. “This is the first summit of its kind to be hosted and co-chaired with an English-speaking country. It reflects Africa-France partnerships that are both robust and balanced. These partnerships are built in support of each party’s economic development as they are based on real complementarities serving populations. They must also contribute to fairer and more inclusive global governance, rejecting bloc dynamics, predation and new forms of imperialism: more than ever, these partnerships are useful,” the source indicated. The joint statement presented by the French Embassy in the DRC further noted that “the Africa Forward Summit will illustrate the richness and dynamism of relations between the African continent and France through the diversity of stakeholders taking part: states, businesses, youth, artists, civil society and diasporas. It will provide an opportunity to demonstrate the commitment of France, Kenya and African countries to accelerate cross-investments and to build and finance concrete solutions to common challenges.” It is part of the continuity of the Paris Summit on Financing African Economies in 2021, the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact held in Paris, the African Climate Summit in Nairobi in 2023, as well as the African Union–European Union Summit in Luanda in November 2025.The day of May 11^th will open with a business forum highlighting the depth of Franco-African economic partnerships, while May 12^th  will be largely devoted to development financing issues and global challenges.Issues of youth training and employment, sovereignty and competitiveness will be at the heart of discussions.The summit will also address peace and security issues in support of African mediation efforts and actions by the African Union. Some conclusions of the Africa Forward Summit will contribute to preparations for the G7 Summit, which France will host in Evian from June 15^th to 17^th, the source concluded.