Leaders at the Africa Forward Summit have called for greater inclusion of Africa in global financial and governance institutions, stressing the need for reforms that support the continent's development ambitions.

Speaking at the summit, Kenyan President William Ruto said the current international financial architecture remains structurally unequal and continues to place disproportionate constraints on African countries seeking concessional financing and infrastructure development.

Ruto said the current financing systems discourage investment in sectors critical for Africa's growth and sustainable development.

He also highlighted the continent's natural resources, critical minerals and renewable energy potential as key drivers for a future economic transformation.

French President Emmanuel Macron and United Nations Secretary General António Guterres stressed the importance of equal representation for Africa on the global stage, including greater access to international financial institutions and a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Macron called for stronger African-led peace and security operations, while Guterres warned that the world loses out when Africa's voice is not fully reflected in international decision-making structures.

Namibia has continually reiterated the call for Africa's common position on reforming the United Nations Security Council, calling for two permanent and five non-permanent African seats and the abolition of the veto power. 

Kenya is hosting the first-ever France-Africa summit in an English-speaking African country.

By co-hosting the event with Kenya, France and its partners signal a deliberate shift toward deeper engagement with Anglophone Africa and a more balanced, continent-wide partnership approach.