Not France here: Africa draws clear line to President Macron

The Africa Forward summit, held in Nairobi on May 11 and dedicated to strengthening economic partnership between Africa and France, was marked by an unexpected moment when French President Emmanuel Macron interrupted a cultural session to demand silence in the hall, according to Caliber.Az.

Amid noise in the auditorium, Macron, who was seated in the front row, went up to the stage and intervened in the discussion, visibly surprising participants. “I will make an order,” he said before taking the microphone.

“Excuse me, everybody… Hey, hey! I’m sorry guys, but it is impossible to speak about culture, to have people like that super inspired, coming here, making a speech with such a such noise,” Macron said. “This is a total lack of respect. So, i suggest, if you want to have bilaterals, so speak about somebody else, i mean something else, you have bilateral rooms or you go outside. If you want to stay here, we listen to the people, and we are playing the same game. Thank you.”

Criticism for Macron’s remarks emerged immediately, with Fox News reporting that they were widely seen as inappropriate. Former Zimbabwean MP Fadzayi Mahere addressed the French leader on X: “Respectfully, Emmanuel Macron, I don’t believe that it’s courteous or appropriate for you to come onto our Continent and talk down at people like this. They are not your kids. Don’t be condescending. Imagine if a guest of the state did the same in your country? Would it fly? I don’t think so.”

Kenyan lawyer Miguna Miguna, who has 3.1 million followers on X, wrote: “Africans have the right to shout, yell, boo, or to express displeasure or disrespect at Emmanuel Macron or any of his African slaves in Africa. Africans don’t need Emmanuel Macron’s permission to speak in Africa.”

According to media reports, Miguna announced in January his intention to run for president of Kenya in 2027.

Modern Ghana news outlet noted that there is symbolic irony in the incident, as Macron arrived in Kenya to promote what Paris describes as a more equal and respectful partnership with African countries, moving away from a model long criticised as paternalistic and post-colonial.

Kenyan outlet The Standard reported that the episode “cast an unusual shadow” over the summit, noting that some civil society groups described the two-day event as a reconfiguration of imperialism.

The moment highlighted the complexity of the balance Macron faces as France seeks to redefine its relations with Africa after years of political tensions and troop withdrawals from several West African countries. Paris is revising its strategy on the continent amid growing competition from Russia, China, and Türkiye.