Nairobi: The opening session of the Africa-France Summit started on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Nairobi with the participation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, French President Emmanuel Macron, leaders from nearly 30 African nations, the UN secretary-general as well as representatives of the international business community, financial institutions and development partners.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the inaugural session focused on ways to strengthen trade and economic partnerships between France and African countries, while advancing sustainable development efforts and supporting the private sector across the African continent.

The session featured keynote addresses by the presidents of Kenya, France, and Burundi, the current chair of the African Union, in addition to speeches by the secretary-general of the UN and the chairman of the African Union Commission.

El-Sisi is scheduled to deliver Egypt’s address during a working luncheon later on Tuesday dedicated to discussions on reforming the international financial architecture, restructuring the global financial system, and improving African countries’ access to sustainable financing.

The session will also include remarks by several participating leaders, including representatives from France, Nigeria, C´te d’Ivoire, and Zambia, alongside the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the president of the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

On the sidelines of the summit, President El-Sisi is also expected to hold a number of bilateral meetings with fellow African leaders and senior officials from international organizations.