Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi arrived on Monday in the Kenyan capital Nairobi to take part in the Africa–France Summit titled “Africa Forward,” a high-level gathering focused on strengthening political, economic, and development cooperation between African states and international partners, with France playing a central role.
Upon landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, President El-Sisi was received by senior Kenyan officials, including Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale, alongside Chief of Protocol at the State Department for Foreign Affairs Ms. Severine Luyali, Egypt’s Ambassador to Kenya Hatem Yousry, and members of the Egyptian diplomatic mission in Nairobi.
The Egyptian Presidency spokesperson said a ceremonial guard of honor was lined up to welcome the Egyptian leader, reflecting the diplomatic weight attached to the visit and the broader importance of the summit in shaping Africa’s external partnerships.
Following the reception, President El-Sisi signed the visitors’ book at the presidential lounge at the airport before heading to his scheduled engagements within the summit framework.
The Africa–France Summit “Africa Forward” is expected to bring together African heads of state, senior government officials, and international partners to discuss key priorities including investment flows, infrastructure development, food security, climate challenges, and regional stability. The gathering comes at a time when African countries are increasingly seeking to diversify international partnerships beyond traditional frameworks, while also pushing for more balanced economic relations.
Diplomatic sources describe Egypt’s participation as part of its broader strategy to strengthen its role within Africa, particularly through cooperation with the African Union and bilateral partnerships across the continent. Cairo has consistently emphasized the importance of African-led development agendas, especially in areas such as energy, transport connectivity, and water security.
The summit also reflects growing competition among global powers for influence in Africa, with France seeking to recalibrate its engagement model on the continent amid shifting political and economic dynamics in several regions. The “Africa Forward” initiative is widely seen as an attempt to redefine cooperation based on investment, youth development, and sustainable growth rather than traditional aid-based frameworks.
President El-Sisi is expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit with participating leaders, focusing on expanding economic ties, attracting investment, and coordinating positions on regional security issues, particularly in the Horn of Africa and the wider Nile Basin region.
His participation underscores Egypt’s continued effort to position itself as a key diplomatic actor in Africa, while reinforcing Nairobi’s role as a major hub for continental and international summits.
