Suddenly Emmanuel Macron stands up and interrupts the event

Uproar at Africa conference

Suddenly Macron stands up and interrupts the event

Emmanuel Macron calls for more investment at a summit in Kenya. But something displeases him. He stands up and grabs the microphone.

An unusual scene occurred at the Africa Forward summit in the Kenyan capital Nairobi in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron. As the audience grew loud while a group of speakers took the stage, Macron rose from his seat in the front row. He entered the podium and demanded the microphone from the moderator. She was visibly irritated and said to the president: “Now? It’s not your turn yet.” The head of state replied: “We are now ensuring order” and took the microphone. Then he turned to the audience.

“Sorry, everyone. Hey, hey, hey,” Macron shouted. “I’m sorry, guys. But it’s impossible to talk about culture and have such inspiring speakers here when there’s so much noise here.” Excited voices could be heard in the background. Then there was spontaneous applause. “This is a total disrespect,” Macron continued. “I suggest that if you absolutely have something to discuss, please go outside, there is enough space outside.” Finally, Macron thanked him for the attention, gave the microphone back and sat back down in his seat.

What was probably well-intentioned was not well received by everyone on the African continent. The former Zimbabwe MP, Fadzayi Mahere, subsequently wrote on

At the summit, Macron announced investments worth 23 billion euros on the continent. 14 billion euros come from French donors and 9 billion euros from investors from Africa, as Macron said in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. The investments could create more than 250,000 jobs in France and Africa, Macron said. He thanked the companies represented on site and praised the “very concrete” results.

According to French media reports that cited the Élysée Palace, the money will flow primarily into the energy transition, digitalization and agriculture. According to the information, private and public actors from France will take part.

30 heads of state and government as well as UN Secretary-General António Guterres were expected at the “Africa Forward Summit”. On site were Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senegal’s head of state Bassirou Diomaye Faye, junta leader Brice Oligui Nguema from Gabon and Aziz Akhannouch, head of government of the Kingdom of Morocco.