Egypt's Al-Sisi Arrives In Nairobi For Africa-France Summit Amid Calls For UN Security Council Reform

(MENAFN- Daily News Egypt) Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi arrived in Nairobi on Monday for the Africa-France Summit, an event aimed at reshaping international partnerships and reforming global financial systems, as the African Union used the gathering to demand permanent representation on the UN Security Council.

The two-day summit, held on May 11 and 12 under the theme“Africa Forward,” is expected to welcome 30 heads of state, with 10 having arrived so far. Upon his arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Al-Sisi was received by Kenyan Minister of Health Aden Duale, Chief of Protocol of the Republic of Kenya Séverine Luyali, EgyptianAmbassador to Kenya Hatem Youssry, and members of the Egyptian embassy.

Egyptian presidential spokesperson Mohamed El-Shennawy stated that Al-Sisi will deliver Egypt's address during the summit and hold bilateral meetings with African leaders and international officials.

The gathering marks the first time the summit is being held in an Anglophone country. It is expected to draw reactions to the withdrawal of French troops from West Africa, which was completed last year amid France's waning regional influence.

Ambassador Youssry noted the event comes as major powers seek to enhance their presence in the resource-rich continent. The summit aims to advance sustainable development based on mutual benefit and capitalise on investment and trade opportunities. Core priorities include economic growth, digital transformation, energy, reforming the international financial system, and integrating African priorities into global economic frameworks.

Attendees include the French President, the UN Secretary-General, heads of international and regional finance organisations, and African and French business representatives.

On the margins of the summit, the Ministerial Meeting on the Reform of the UN Security Council took place. African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf reaffirmed the continent's united position on the matter.

“Africa is not asking for a favour; Africa is demanding the correction of a historical injustice,” Youssouf said, stressing that the continent can no longer remain excluded from permanent representation given its demographic, political, and economic weight.

Guided by the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, Youssouf stated that Africa continues to call for no fewer than two permanent seats with full prerogatives, including the veto while it exists, and five non-permanent seats in an expanded Council.

Welcoming the support of France, Kenya, and Sierra Leone in advancing the African Model, Youssouf called for concrete action to transform international consensus into meaningful reform.

“The credibility & legitimacy of the Security Council depend on its ability to reflect the realities of today's world, not the geopolitical order of 1945,” he stated, noting that the African Union's permanent membership in the G20 demonstrates that global governance institutions can evolve to become more representative.

Alongside high-level diplomacy, the summit places a heavy emphasis on civil society. The first day is devoted to panels of business representatives and debates with young people.

Questions remain over the fulfilment of promises made at the previous France-Africa summit held in Montpellier in 2021. Attention will be on the Council for Monitoring Commitments to see if past resolutions are enacted. For example, the House of African Worlds and Diasporas-a venue dedicated to contemporary African cultures-was established in Paris in 2025 but still lacks a permanent home, which the French government has promised to deliver in 2027 following elections.

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