Pan-African and civil society groups in Kenya staged a parallel summit in Nairobi opposing the Africa-France Summit, branded “Africa Forward,” as Kenyan President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron attended the high-level meeting.

The counter-event, titled “Pan African Summit Against Imperialism,” brought together activists and lobby groups accusing France of repackaging neo-colonial influence in Africa under the banner of economic cooperation and development partnerships.

Protesters linked to the gathering marched through parts of Nairobi carrying red flags and banners reading “Down with Imperialism!” and “Resist the Imperialist Drive to War.”

Videos circulating online showed demonstrators chanting that their protest was peaceful before they were confronted by heavily deployed police officers in riot gear. Smoke was also seen rising in parts of the city, while local reports indicated that some protesters were arrested.

The Africa Forward summit marks the first major France-Africa summit hosted in a non-Francophone African country, a move that has attracted criticism from anti-imperialist and Pan-African groups.

Organisers of the rival summit said France was attempting to maintain political and economic influence across Africa through a rebranded diplomatic agenda despite growing resistance to French involvement in several African countries.

The demonstrations added to tensions surrounding France’s role on the continent, particularly in countries where anti-French sentiment has grown over military, political and economic ties with Paris.

Faridah Abdulkadiri