SEVILLE, Spain – French President Emmanuel Macron has reaffirmed France’s strategic partnership with Kenya in driving a global agenda that balances sustainable development with urgent climate action — a vision he shares with President William Ruto.
Speaking from Seville, Spain, at a high-level forum on global cooperation, Macron said the two countries are aligned in their belief that no nation should be forced to choose between economic growth and protecting the planet.
“With President William Ruto, we share a common commitment: that no country should have to choose between development and protecting the planet,” Macron said.
The two leaders are championing what Macron called a “Pact for Prosperity, People and the Planet,” which was first launched in Paris two years ago.
Their next major step will be at the 2026 Africa-France Summit, set to take place in Nairobi and co-chaired by France and Kenya.
The summit is expected to spotlight innovative partnerships to help African countries meet their sustainable development goals, while also promoting inclusive and green economic transformation.
Bilateral Projects: Energy, Transport, Agriculture
Macron noted that Kenya and France are already cooperating on a series of ambitious bilateral projects.
These include initiatives in energy transition, sustainable transport infrastructure, and agricultural modernization — key sectors both for economic resilience and climate adaptation.
“These projects show the kind of pragmatic cooperation the world needs if we’re to deliver climate-resilient development,” Macron added.
With President @williamsruto, we share a common commitment: that no country should have to choose between development and protecting the planet. This is the ambition we are bringing today to Seville with our partners, as part of the Pact for Prosperity, People and the planet
Shared Focus on Peace in the Region
Beyond development and climate goals, the French President emphasized the two nations’ mutual interest in promoting peace and security across Africa, particularly in fragile regions such as Sudan, Somalia, and the Great Lakes.
“We reaffirmed our shared commitment to peace and security in the Great Lakes region, Sudan, and Somalia,” he said, highlighting the joint role France and Kenya are playing through diplomatic engagement and development assistance.
The 2026 summit is expected to consolidate Kenya’s rising global profile on climate diplomacy, building on President Ruto’s leadership at last year’s Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, and offering a platform for new forms of cooperation between African and European nations.
