NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has endorsed the “Africa Forward 2026 Summit Declaration,” a new framework aimed at strengthening cooperation between African nations and France on security, agriculture, health systems, and green industrialization.
The declaration was adopted during the Africa Forward Summit held on May 12, 2026, under the theme “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnership for Growth and Innovation.” Leaders pledged to deepen partnerships based on “mutual respect, shared responsibility and co-development” amid shifting global economic and geopolitical dynamics.
On peace and security, the declaration reaffirmed support for African-led responses to conflicts through the African Union Peace and Security Architecture.
It also backed the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719 to strengthen cooperation between the UN and the AU in financing and managing peace operations.
The summit further called for reforms to the UN Security Council in line with the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration to secure greater African representation in global governance structures.
The declaration identified terrorism, cyber threats, organized crime, arms trafficking, and instability in the Horn of Africa, Great Lakes, and Sahel regions as major concerns requiring coordinated responses.
On agriculture, African and French representatives committed to transforming the sector into a climate-resilient and value-driven industry through agro-industrialization, fertilizer supply support, climate-smart farming, and expanded agricultural research partnerships.
The leaders also emphasized youth and women empowerment through land access, financing, agri-technology, and innovation hubs. The declaration linked agricultural reforms to the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area framework to boost regional trade and reduce reliance on raw commodity exports.
In the health sector, the summit backed stronger regional manufacturing of vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics. The declaration also endorsed the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism as a strategy to lower costs and expand access to essential medical products across the continent.
The health agenda included commitments to Universal Health Coverage, pandemic preparedness, digital health systems, and climate-resilient healthcare infrastructure, while supporting the work of the World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
On energy and industrialization, the declaration prioritized investment in renewable energy, green hydrogen, geothermal projects, hydropower, and nuclear energy to support Africa’s industrial transformation and energy security goals.
The summit also committed to expanding electricity access, clean cooking solutions, and interconnected regional energy markets as part of Africa’s long-term development strategy.
The declaration signals growing efforts by African leaders to reposition the continent as a strategic economic and geopolitical partner while seeking more equitable global governance and investment partnerships.
