Emmanuel Macron has announced €23 billion ($27bn) in investments during the Africa Forward summit held in Kenya, as France seeks to strengthen its economic and political ties with African nations.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday that Africa will receive €23 billion ($27 billion) in investments, including €14 billion ($16 billion) from France, according to BFM TV.

Emmanuel Macron called for stronger technology and energy cooperation between Africa and Europe on Monday, urging both continents to reduce their dependence on American and Chinese technologies during the opening of the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi.

The European Political Community summit will likely be remembered for its emotional meetings and conspicuous displays of warm friendship between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and French President Emmanuel Macron. Had these displays been somewhat more restrained and dignified, they might not have attracted much attention. After all, cordial relations between politicians from different countries are perfectly normal.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that the Islamic Republic is ready to actively pursue diplomatic channels to end the war, while insisting on securing the rights of the Iranian people.

Editor’s note: Zaur Nurmamedov is a journalist and a graduate of the Faculty of Political Science at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1993–1999). He previously served as first deputy editor-in-chief of the Vesti.Az news portal (2009–2023). The views expressed in this article are his own and do not necessarily reflect the position of News.Az.

Emmanuel Macron threw his weight behind Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a high-profile state visit, offering strong political support for Yerevan’s shift towards Europe just weeks before a closely contested election.

The leader of France’s left-wing opposition party La France Insoumise (France Unbowed), Jean-Luc Melenchon, has announced that he will run in the country’s 2027 presidential election, confirming that it will be his fourth attempt to win France’s highest office.