Nairobi, Kenya, Ahead of the Africa Forward Summit taking place in Nairobi on 11 and 12 May, Greenpeace Africa and civil society partners, Power Shift Africa and Christian Aid, are calling on African and French leaders to use the meeting to secure concrete commitments that advance Africa’s economic transformation, climate resilience and financial sovereignty.

The summit comes at a time when global powers are increasingly competing for influence and partnership across Africa. This growing interest is being driven by Africa’s vast natural resources, expanding consumer markets, renewable energy potential, strategic maritime routes, youthful population and rising political influence. With more than fifteen Africa focused bilateral summits now hosted by major powers, from China and Russia to the United States, Korea, Türkiye and France, Africa has become one of the most strategically sought after regions in global diplomacy.

Fred Njehu, Pan African Political Strategist at Greenpeace Africa said:

“Africa is experiencing continued geopolitical attention, as it is at the center of economic and political transition. This creates the urgency to address the structural challenges that undermine the continent’s prosperity, importantly focusing on the global reforms of the financial architecture as a starting point. Therefore this is an important opportunity for African leaders to negotiate partnerships that are shaped not by external access alone, but by Africa’s own development ambitions,”

Civil society attending the summit say leaders must move beyond symbolic cooperation and deliver commitments that address the structural barriers continuing to slow Africa’s development. These include fairer development finance, debt restructuring, support for green industrialization and local value addition, stronger technology transfer, investment in renewable energy and digital infrastructure, and reforms to global financial systems that continue to disadvantage African economies.

In addition, the civil society organizations are calling for stronger polluter accountability measures, including stronger taxes on fossil fuel corporations and reforms that ensure revenues generated from pollution and excessive wealth are directed toward climate adaptation, biodiversity protection, community resilience, and Loss and Damage financing.

Amos Burudi Wemanya, Senior Climate Advisor, Powershift Africa said:

“Africa cannot continue exporting raw materials while importing unemployment, debt and vulnerability. What this summit should deliver is not just broader access to African markets, but stronger commitments on development finance, green industrialization, and reforms that allow African countries to build productive economies that benefit their own citizens,” 

As global demand rises for Africa’s minerals, energy resources, agricultural land and marine wealth, there is growing concern that communities could once again carry the social and environmental cost of rapid external investment unless justice and sustainability are placed at the centre of negotiations.

Africa Kiiza, Pan Africa Advocacy & Policy Lead, Christian Aid said:

“African communities have witnessed too many deals shaped by extractive colonial legacies, where environmental costs remain local while profits are exported elsewhere. This summit must reflect a true spirit of partnership, not paternalism, and build a future where Africa’s resources strengthen local livelihoods, protect ecosystems, and drive a just transition that leaves no one behind” 

With France preparing to host the G7 Summit in Evian next month, Nairobi presents an important opportunity to elevate African priorities on climate finance, debt restructuring, tax justice and reform of the global financial system onto the broader international agenda. The summit should help advance a more equitable and people centred model of cooperation that enables Africa to move beyond extraction and dependency toward resilient economies, green industrial growth and shared prosperity for communities across the continent.

ENDS

Media contact:

Fred Njehu I Pan African Political Strategist I+254 723 583251I [email protected] 

Greenpeace Africa Pressdesk: [email protected]