South African business giants head to Africa-France summit as Ramaphosa skips Nairobi gathering

As global powers race to strengthen ties with Africa’s fast-growing markets, South Africa is heading to a major France-Africa investment summit in Nairobi but without President Cyril Ramaphosa at the table.

Instead, Pretoria will be represented by Maropene Ramokgopa alongside a high-profile business delegation that includes Eskom, Aspen Pharmacare and Biovac.

The summit, hosted in Nairobi, comes at a crucial time for both Africa and France, as Paris attempts to rebuild its political and economic influence across a continent where its standing has weakened significantly over the past decade.

France pushes for real business deals, not political speeches

Unlike many high-level diplomatic gatherings that end with vague promises and photo opportunities, French officials say the Africa Forward Summit is intended to produce concrete investment announcements.

The two-day event opens with a business forum focused on securing partnerships and deals before political leaders officially take centre stage.

French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to close the forum with a major announcement covering investments across sectors such as technology, culture, sport and infrastructure.

Behind the scenes, France is trying to reposition itself as a long-term economic partner for African countries especially as competition from China, the Gulf states, the United States and Russia continues to intensify.

French influence has declined sharply in parts of West and Central Africa in recent years, particularly in former French colonies where anti-France sentiment has grown following military coups, political unrest and accusations of economic dominance.

Hosting the summit in Kenya, an English-speaking African nation, signals a major shift in France’s Africa strategy.

Why Nairobi matters

Historically, France’s Africa summits were heavily centred around Francophone Africa.

Since the 1970s, these gatherings largely rotated between France and French-speaking African countries, reinforcing Paris’ traditional sphere of influence.

This year’s decision to hold the summit in Nairobi marks a symbolic and strategic departure from that model.

Kenya has increasingly positioned itself as a diplomatic and economic gateway into East Africa, while also attracting growing international investment interest in sectors like fintech, renewable energy and digital infrastructure.

Analysts say France is now actively looking beyond its traditional allies as it tries to regain relevance on the continent.

South Africa’s relationship with France appears stronger

Even though Ramaphosa will not attend personally, relations between Pretoria and Paris currently appear relatively warm.

Recently, David Martinon publicly supported South Africa’s participation in upcoming G20 discussions after reports that US President Donald Trump had barred South Africa from a December gathering.

France also reportedly rejected claims that Ramaphosa’s invitation to the G7 had been withdrawn under pressure from Washington.

That diplomatic support has not gone unnoticed in South Africa, especially at a time when global geopolitics are becoming increasingly tense and African nations are facing pressure to choose sides between competing international powers.

Business, energy and vaccines high on the agenda

South Africa’s delegation reflects some of the country’s biggest strategic industries.

Eskom’s participation comes as energy security and infrastructure investment remain central to Africa’s growth conversations. Across the continent, governments are under pressure to expand electricity access while transitioning toward cleaner energy systems.

Meanwhile, Aspen Pharmacare and Biovac highlight another growing focus area: Africa’s push for greater pharmaceutical independence.

The Covid-19 pandemic exposed how dependent many African countries remain on imported medicines and vaccines. Since then, several governments and institutions have pushed for stronger local manufacturing capacity.

Biovac’s inclusion is particularly significant given ongoing conversations around vaccine production and health sovereignty on the continent.

Africa’s financing challenge takes centre stage

The summit is expected to attract around 30 African heads of state alongside major financial institutions including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and African Development Bank.

One of the biggest themes will be how African economies can improve access to investment and financing.

Discussions are expected to focus on digital banking, private-sector partnerships and new funding mechanisms aimed at supporting entrepreneurs and infrastructure projects.

For many African countries, access to affordable capital remains one of the biggest barriers to economic growth.

A changing global scramble for Africa

Beyond the official agenda, the summit also reflects a much larger geopolitical reality: Africa has once again become central to global economic competition.

From critical minerals and renewable energy to artificial intelligence and digital finance, international powers increasingly see Africa as both a future market and a strategic partner.

But across the continent, there is also growing resistance to old-style foreign relationships that benefited external powers more than local populations.

That is why forums like the Africa Forward Summit are now being watched closely not just for diplomatic symbolism, but for whether they deliver tangible benefits for African economies and businesses.

For South Africa, the summit represents another balancing act: strengthening international partnerships while also pushing for greater African economic independence in an increasingly competitive global landscape.