10 – 12 May 2026

Programme

Africa Forward 2026 unfolds across two days at the University of Nairobi and the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi, preceded by a pre-event on 10 May.

Download Official Programme (PDF)

16 pages · 1.8 MB · Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs

Pre-event 10 May 2026 — Nairobi, Kenya

CSOs Pavilion

Innovation and Social Creation Pavilion

The Innovation and Social Creation Pavilion takes place on 10 May 2026 in Nairobi, ahead of the Africa Forward Summit.

The Pavilion is at once:

A multi-stakeholder event supported by around fifty pan-African and French civil society organisations.
A space for dialogue and for sharing experiences and solutions.
An opportunity to showcase grassroots initiatives that are paving the way for deep transformations in institutions, communities and forms of citizenship.
A platform to highlight new ideas and examples of social innovation that contribute to community security, the rule of law and a vibrant civic and cultural life across the continent.
A way to support the energy and aspirations of youth and women, while helping to build new shared narratives and to address Africa’s major challenges today.

Day 1 11 May 2026 · University of Nairobi

Africa Forward: Inspire and Connect

Business Forum and high-level sessions on Youth, Creative and Cultural Industries and Sport

Approximately 1,500 high-level participants — business leaders, investors, SMEs, and young entrepreneurs — convene for structured networking, B2B matchmaking, and sector-focused workshops.

View provisional schedule

08:30

Opening speeches by Kenyan and French Foreign Affairs Ministers

09:30 — 10:30

High-level Youth event

11:30 — 13:00

High-level Cultural and Creative Industries event

12:00 — 14:00

Ministerial Meeting on Peace and Security

14:00 — 15:00

High-level Sport event

17:00 — 17:30

Closing speeches by President Ruto and President Macron

19:00 — 20:30

State Banquet

Provisional schedule — subject to change.

Visit Business Forum website

Day 2 12 May 2026 · KICC, Nairobi

Africa Forward Summit

Heads of State & Government Plenary

Heads of State and Government convene for the Opening Ceremony, a plenary on Peace & Security, four thematic roundtables and the Closing Ceremony with adoption of the Nairobi Declaration.

View official agenda

09:15 — 10:00 · Official Opening Ceremony

Tsavo A · Moderator: Ms. Vivian Onano (Leading Light Initiative)

Opening Statements: H.E. William Ruto · H.E. Emmanuel Macron · H.E. António Guterres (UN SG) · H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf (AU Commission Chairperson)

10:00 — 10:15

Family Photo · Heads of State, Government & Representatives of Delegations

10:30 — 12:30 · Plenary: African & French CEOs on Green Industrialisation & Energy Transition

Tsavo B · Moderator: Ms. Nachouat Meghouar (French-African Foundation) · Co-Moderator: Ms. Vivian Onano

Presidential Panel: Ruto, Macron, Kagame, Abiy Ahmed Ali, John Dramani Mahama, Mamady Doumbouya
Joint CEOs Pitch: James Mwangi (Equity Bank) · Christel Heydemann (Orange)
Open Moderated Discussion: Green Industrialisation & Agriculture · Infrastructure, Energy & Digital · Human Capital, Skills & Creative Industries
Key Takeaways: Ruto, Macron, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf
AGII Signing: Wamkele Mene (AfCFTA) · Sidi Ould Tah (AfDB) · Odile Renaud-Basso (EBRD)

12:30 — 14:30 · Plenary Working Lunch: Reform of the International Financial Architecture

Tsavo C · Moderator: Mary Lokossou (Managing Director, Benin Deposit and Consignment Office, Benin)

Speakers: Macron (opening) · Kristalina Georgieva (IMF) · Tinubu · Makhtar Diop (IFC) · Hichilema (Zambia) · Odile Renaud-Basso (EBRD) · Al-Sisi · Moussa Faki (4P Special Envoy) · Akhannouch (Morocco) · Sidi Ould Tah (AfDB) · Obiang (Equatorial Guinea VP) · Manuel Moses (ATIDI) · Ouattara (Côte d’Ivoire) · Serge Ekue (BOAD) · Mafalda Duarte (Global Climate Fund) · Ruto (closing)

14:30 — 15:00

Health Break

15:00 — 16:30 · Plenary: Peace and Security

Tsavo B · Moderator: Dr. Solomon Dersso (Founding Director, Amani Africa)

Opening: Ruto, Macron
Impact of the International Situation: Guterres, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf
Migration: Tinubu, Idriss Déby (Chad), Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri (Tunisia)
African Mediations: Gnassingbé (Togo), Guelleh (Djibouti), Cheikh Ould Ghazouani (Mauritania)
Financing Peace Operations: Daniel Chapo (Mozambique), John Mahama (Ghana)
Security Council Reform: J.N. Barrot (FR FM) · Musalia Mudavadi (KE Prime CS & CS Foreign Affairs) · Maada Bio (Sierra Leone, AU Chair C-10) · Félix Tshisekedi (DRC)

17:00 — 18:00 · Parallel Round Tables

AI & Digital Technologies

Lenana Hall · Co-Moderators: Amb. Clara Chappaz & Amb. Philip Thigo

Co-Chairs / Welcome: Duma Boko (Botswana) · Paul Kagame (Rwanda)
Pillar I – Infrastructure: Strive Masiyiwa (Econet Global), Jean-François Fallacher (Eutelsat) · Announcement: Cassava AI Factory
Pillar II – Talent: Benin (digitalization policy), Karim Beguir (InstaDeep), Frédéric Pascal (Univ. Paris-Saclay / DataIA) · Launch: Africa Forward AI Clusters
Pillar III – Governance: H.E. Juan Manuel Santos (The Elders), Jade Abbott (Masakhane) · Announcement: €1.9M AI funding for open linguistic models

Blue Economy

Taifa Hall · Moderators: Amb. Olivier Poivre & Amb. Nancy Karigithu

Opening: Bassirou Diomaye Faye (Senegal)
Maritime Sovereignty: Tinubu, Patrick Herminie (Seychelles), Azali Assoumani (Comoros)
Industrial Transformation: Lucia Witbooi (Namibia VP), Daniel Chapo (Mozambique)
Financing: Inger Andersen (UNEP), Anacláudia Rossbach (UN-Habitat), Sidi Ould Tah (AfDB), Aliko Dangote, Keith Svendsen (APM Terminals), George Elombi (Afreximbank), Serge Ekue (BOAD), Christel Heydemann (Orange)
Ministerial: Hon. Hassan Joho (KE Mining, Blue Economy & Maritime), Hon. Catherine Chabaud (FR Delegate Minister of the Sea)
Closing: Navinchandra Ramgoolam (Mauritius PM)

Resilient Health Systems

Aberdares Hall · Moderator: Dr. Githinji Gitahi (CEO, AMREF)

Opening: John Mahama (Ghana), Aziz Akhannouch (Morocco), Government of France representative
Setting the Stage: Dr. Jean Kaseya (Africa CDC)
Financing & Investment: Makhtar Diop (IFC), Amb. Christophe Lecourtier (AFD), Hon. Aden Duale (KE Health), Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri (Tunisia PM)
Tech Transfer & PPP: Dr. Jerome H. Kim (IVI), Dr. Philippe Duneton (UNITAID), Félix Tshisekedi (DRC)
Human Capital, Regulatory & Market: Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (WHO), Dr. Delese Mimi Darko (Africa Medicine Agency), Dr. Sania Nishtar (Gavi), Amb. Amma Twum-Amoah (AU Health Commissioner)
Closing: Dr. Githinji Gitahi, H.E. Eleonore Caroit (FR Minister Delegate, Francophonie)

Sustainable Agriculture

Taifa Hall · Moderator: Mr. Jean-Michel Severino (Odi Global Advisory)

Co-Chairs: H.M. King Letsie III (Lesotho), Mohamed Ould Ghazouani (Mauritania)
High-Level Sequence I: Abiy Ahmed Ali (Ethiopia), Brice Oligui Nguema (Gabon), Michael Randrianirina (Madagascar), Mwigulu Nchemba (Tanzania PM), Prosper Bazombanza (Burundi VP)
Market Access: Dr. James Mwangi (Equity), Dr. Kamau Thugge (CBK Governor)
High-Level Sequence II: Joseph Boakai (Liberia), Julius Maada Bio (Sierra Leone), Omar Alieu Touray (ECOWAS), Antoine de Saint-Affrique (Danone), Alvario Lario (IFAD), Hon. José de Lima Massano (Angola)
France: Nicolas Forissier (FR Minister Delegate, Foreign Trade)
Capacity Development: Alice Ruhweza (AGRA), INRAE/CIRAD, Siny Samba (Le Lionceau)
Closing: Hon. Mutahi Kagwe (KE Agriculture), Hon. Moses Vilakati (AU Agriculture)

Special Segment on the Congo Basin Climate Commission

Tsavo C

18:30 — 19:00 · Closing Ceremony

Tsavo A

Summary of all thematic sessions · Conclusion and formal announcement of the outcome of the summit · Press Conference

Speakers: H.E. William Ruto, H.E. Emmanuel Macron

21:00 · Africa Forward Closing Concert

Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani Arena · All invited guests

Source: Official Summit Programme, Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.

Explore the Summit

Building Safer Digital Spaces for Children in Africa — hosted by H.E. Rachel Ruto

Side Event

First Ladies’ Programme

Building Safer Digital Spaces for Children in Africa in an AI-Driven World

Hosted by H.E. Mrs. Rachel Ruto, E.G.H., in collaboration with the Office of the Special Envoy on Technology and World Vision International. A structured roundtable on child online safety, sustainable financing, and meaningful child participation.

Side Event

Nova Garage — The High-Level Launch

11 May 2026 · 3:00 PM · Kenya National Theatre, Nairobi

Under the High Patronage of H.E. William Ruto. A pan-African innovation platform spotlighting 15 of Africa’s most disruptive founders alongside investors, CEOs, policymakers and Heads of State.

The detailed programme with specific session timings and room assignments will be published closer to the event.

About the Summit