NAIROBI, Kenya — President Paul Kagame has called on Africans to take greater responsibility for the future of their continent, saying that no foreign power or world leader, regardless of influence or strength, will solve Africa’s challenges on behalf of its people.
Speaking on May 12, 2026, during a France-Africa summit held in Nairobi, Kenya, President Kagame emphasized that Africa’s progress depends primarily on cooperation among Africans and a shared commitment to finding solutions to the continent’s problems.
The Rwandan leader participated in a high-level panel discussion focused on the role of African and French business leaders in advancing environmentally friendly industries and expanding access to modern energy solutions across the continent.
The discussion brought together several prominent leaders, including Kenyan President William Ruto, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, Guinean leader Mamady Doumbouya, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.
During his remarks, President Kagame pointed to the long history of international promises made to Africa that have often failed to produce meaningful or lasting change.
“Many promises have been made to Africa, but in the end they are not fulfilled in a way that delivers tangible results,” Kagame said. “Is this injustice? Yes. But on the other hand, as Africans, we must take responsibility before expecting anyone else to do so.”
Kagame stressed that Africa’s development and stability cannot depend entirely on outside intervention, insisting that the continent’s future must be shaped by Africans themselves.
“No leader in the world, regardless of how powerful their country may be, will save our continent,” he said. “Discussions like these should remind us that through cooperation we can overcome every obstacle before us.”
The France-Africa summit was organized to strengthen relations between African nations and France through partnerships aimed at promoting economic growth, investment, innovation, and sustainable development.
French President Emmanuel Macron used the occasion to reaffirm what he described as a new era in France’s relationship with Africa, one based on mutual respect and equal partnership rather than historical influence.
Macron stated that France no longer considers Africa as its sphere of control or influence.
“This is a continent that France no longer wants to see as its backyard, where investors believe they are automatically entitled to privileges or guaranteed deals simply because African countries use the French language,” Macron said.
The French president acknowledged that in previous decades, many people viewed France as having the authority to influence political leadership across parts of Africa. However, he argued that such an approach ended when he came to office in 2017.
“Since 2017, those times have ended,” Macron said. “Even before 2017, our companies had already begun losing market share in French-speaking African countries. This was not widely discussed, but it happened because Africa is competitive.”
Macron also expressed support for partnerships that respect the sovereignty and independence of African nations while creating opportunities for mutual economic growth and transformation.
As part of France’s renewed engagement strategy, Macron announced plans for approximately $27 billion in investments across Africa, particularly in sectors such as energy and technology.
The summit concluded with renewed calls from participating leaders for stronger international cooperation, increased investment, and African-led solutions to the continent’s economic and development challenges.
