Macron Scolds Audience at Africa Summit for Disrupting Speakers

French President Emmanuel Macron drew sharp criticism after interrupting a youth-focused session at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi on Monday. He publicly scolded attendees for talking over speakers and labeled the disruption a total lack of respect.

Video from the event captured Macron standing up and walking onto the stage during the "Africa Forward: Creation in Motion" session. The panel featured artists and young entrepreneurs discussing culture and innovation.

"Excuse me, everybody. Hey, hey, hey," Macron said to the audience. "I’m sorry, guys. But it’s impossible to speak about culture, to have people like that super inspired, coming here, making a speech with such a noise."

"So this is a total lack of respect," he added. "I suggest if you want to have bilateral or speak about somebody else, I mean something else, you have bilateral rooms, or you go outside. If you want to stay here, we listen to the people, and we’re playing the same game."

Social media users quickly condemned Macron's uninvited intervention. Fadzayi Mahere, a former Zimbabwean member of Parliament, posted on X: "Respectfully @EmmanuelMacron I don’t believe that it’s courteous or appropriate for you to come onto our Continent and talk down at people like this. They are not your kids. Don’t be condescending. Imagine if a guest of the state did the same in your country? Would it fly? I don’t think so."

Dr. Miguna Miguna, a Kenyan-Canadian lawyer with 3.1 million followers who announced his run for Kenyan president in 2027, wrote: "Africans don’t need @EmmanuelMacron’s permission to speak in Africa."

A Modern Ghana report on Monday highlighted the symbolic irony. Macron had come to Kenya to advance what Paris calls a more equal partnership with African nations, shifting from a post-colonial model critics see as paternalistic.

The Africa Forward Summit brought together more than 30 African leaders, business executives and young entrepreneurs for talks on economic development, innovation and Europe-Africa cooperation. Kenya’s Standard Media said the exchange cast an unusual shadow over the two-day event. Some civil society groups described the summit as a reengineering of imperialism.

The incident highlighted challenges in France's efforts to reshape ties with Africa amid political tensions and military pullouts from West African countries.

Earlier Monday, Macron told University of Nairobi students that Africa is succeeding. He said the continent requires investment to build sovereignty, not reliance on aid. Modern Ghana reporter Mustapha Bature Sallama noted Macron cited France's financial limits.

Macron has stressed ties with African youth, entrepreneurs and cultural figures as Paris adjusts its strategy against competition from Russia, China and Turkey.