PM Party Criticizes Africa Forward Summit, Warns Against ‘Repackaged Neo-Colonialism’

The Peoples Renaissance Movement has sharply criticized the recently concluded Africa Forward Summit 2026 held in Nairobi, warning that Africa must remain vigilant against what it termed as “repackaged neo-colonial arrangements” disguised as international partnerships.

In a strongly worded statement released on May 14, 2026, the movement questioned the motives behind renewed engagement between France and African nations following the summit co-chaired by William Ruto and Emmanuel Macron.

The party acknowledged the importance of international cooperation in areas such as trade, diplomacy, education, technology, and investment, but insisted that such partnerships must be grounded in transparency, sovereignty, equality, dignity, and genuine mutual benefit.

According to the movement, Africa’s historical experiences with foreign powers — particularly France’s role in parts of West and Central Africa — cannot be ignored when evaluating modern diplomatic and economic engagements.

The statement pointed to rising anti-French sentiment in countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, arguing that frustrations over military interventions, foreign influence, and exploitation of African resources contributed to the deterioration of France’s relations with several Sahel states.

The movement specifically cited Niger’s long-standing uranium exports to France, noting that despite being one of the world’s key uranium producers, the country has remained among the poorest globally.

According to the PM Party, this contradiction symbolizes what many Africans associate with the historic “Françafrique” system — a term commonly used to describe France’s political and economic influence in its former colonies.

The movement further claimed that France’s growing engagement with Anglophone African countries, including Kenya, appears to be part of a broader strategy to rebuild its geopolitical

 influence following setbacks in the Sahel region.

The party also linked the debate to Africa’s wider post-independence history, referencing prominent Pan-African figures such as Patrice Lumumba, Thomas Sankara, and Muammar Gaddafi, whom it described as symbols of resistance against foreign domination and economic dependency.

In its statement, the movement accused President Ruto’s administration of hypocrisy for advocating reforms in global governance while allegedly facing accusations of repression and suppression of dissent domestically.

The PM Party referenced claims of extra-judicial killings, violent suppression of Gen Z-led protests, and alleged state-backed intimidation against political dissenters, arguing that democratic credibility begins with accountability at home.

The party also expressed concern over Kenya’s role in regional conflicts, particularly the ongoing crisis in Sudan, urging Kenya to maintain neutrality and focus on peacebuilding efforts rather than actions that could undermine regional trust.

Additionally, the movement raised concerns about expanding military and strategic cooperation agreements between Kenya and foreign powers, questioning whether such arrangements genuinely serve national interests or risk turning Kenya into a geopolitical outpost for external powers.

The party further criticized any immunity arrangements allegedly granted to foreign actors operating within Kenya, arguing that Kenyans have a constitutional right to transparency and public participation in matters affecting national sovereignty.

The PM Party called for the full public disclosure of all agreements, memoranda, and commitments signed between the governments of Kenya and France during and around the summit.

It also demanded parliamentary scrutiny of all military, economic, and strategic agreements entered into by the Kenyan government, alongside adherence to Article 35 of the Constitution of Kenya, which guarantees citizens the right to access information.

The movement reiterated its support for Pan-Africanism, stating that Africa’s future should be determined by Africans themselves through partnerships rooted in accountability, justice, sovereignty, and respect for the continent’s resources and people.

“Africa does not need new managers of exploitation. Africa needs partnerships built on truth, accountability, sovereignty, and justice,” the statement concluded.