THE FUSE

President Macron was in Africa. He co-chaired the Africa Forward Summit with President Ruto of Kenya, the host of the event. The objectives of the summit were clear and, viewed against the many professions of collaboration emanating from Europe and elsewhere about the need to engage constructively with Africa because it is the future, France’s objectives appeared broadly aligned with the trend. After all, there has been an Italy-Africa summit, a China-Africa summit, a Russia-Africa summit, TICAD, Francophone summits and mini US-Africa summits. France, too, in this vein was merely positioning itself strategically on the coveted continent.