‘Neo-Colonialism’: Peoples Renaissance Movement Slams Ruto-Macron Africa Forward Summit

By Gedion Nzyoki - 

• The Peoples Renaissance Movement has criticized the recently concluded Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, questioning the direction of Kenya’s expanding international partnerships and their implications for sovereignty and transparency.
• The movement raised broader concerns about Africa’s evolving relations with external powers, linking current diplomatic and economic engagements to historical patterns of inequality in global partnerships.
• It has also called for enhanced public disclosure and stronger parliamentary oversight of agreements arising from high-level international summits and bilateral cooperation frameworks.

Nairobi, Kenya | May 13, 2026 – The Peoples Renaissance Movement (PM) has sharply criticized the recently concluded Africa Forward Summit held in Nairobi, accusing President William Ruto’s administration of advancing foreign partnerships that risk undermining Kenya’s sovereignty and reopening what it described as “neo-colonial” influence in Africa

The Peoples Renaissance Movement Executive Director, Peter Buluma, addressing members of the Fourth Estate on Thursday afternoon. (Photo: Courtesy).

Speaking on Thursday afternoon during a press briefing, the party’s Executive Director, Peter Buluma, raised concerns over the summit co-chaired by President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron. 

He argued that the growing cooperation between Kenya and France should be subjected to greater public scrutiny and parliamentary oversight.

“We acknowledge that international partnerships are necessary in today’s interconnected world. Indeed, Africa must engage globally in trade, diplomacy, technology, education, and investment. However, such engagements must be rooted in transparency, sovereignty, equality, dignity, and genuine mutual benefit — not hidden geopolitical interests or repackaged neo-colonial arrangements disguised as partnerships,” Buluma said.

The summit, which brought together leaders, diplomats, investors, and policy experts, was presented as a platform to strengthen ties between Africa and France through trade, technology, investment, and governance reforms. However, the PM Party questioned the intentions behind France’s renewed engagement with African countries outside its traditional Francophone sphere of influence.

According to the movement, France’s growing diplomatic and strategic ties with Anglophone nations such as Kenya come at a time when Paris has experienced declining influence in parts of West Africa, particularly in Sahel countries including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The party linked the anti-French sentiment in those countries to long-standing accusations of economic exploitation, military interference, and unequal resource arrangements that have persisted even after the end of formal colonial rule.

Citing Niger’s uranium industry as an example, the movement argued that African nations rich in natural resources have historically failed to benefit equitably from foreign partnerships, despite their strategic importance to Western economies.

Concerns Over Foreign Influence and Regional Politics

The PM Party also criticized President Ruto’s governance record, arguing that calls for global reforms and democratic accountability lose credibility when governments face accusations of suppressing dissent at home.

The movement referenced allegations of extrajudicial killings, violent crackdowns on Gen Z-led protests, and politically motivated intimidation against critics of the government.

“We therefore find it deeply hypocritical for President William Ruto to speak about peace, justice, democracy, and reform of global governance structures while his own administration continues to face serious accusations of repression, including extrajudicial killings, violent suppression of Gen Z protesters, and the use of state-backed intimidation through hired goons against political dissenters,” he added.

The statement further expressed concern over Kenya’s role in regional conflicts, particularly in Sudan, warning that Nairobi risks undermining its image as a neutral mediator in regional peace efforts.

According to the party, Kenya should prioritize diplomacy and dialogue rather than actions that may create perceptions of political alignment in external conflicts.

Demand for Public Disclosure

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

It also called for parliamentary scrutiny of any military, economic, or strategic cooperation agreements involving foreign powers, including arrangements that may grant immunity protections to foreign personnel operating in Kenya.

Speaking on Pan-African ideals, the PM Party said Africa’s future should be grounded in partnerships based on equality, accountability, justice, and mutual respect, rather than dependency or external control. 

The movement further invoked the legacy of Pan-African figures such as Patrice Lumumba, Thomas Sankara, and Muammar Gaddafi, describing them as enduring symbols of resistance to foreign domination and economic dependency.

The debate highlights growing public scrutiny over the nature and scope of international partnerships being entered into by African states. 

As such engagements continue to expand, questions around transparency, mutual benefit, and national sovereignty are likely to remain central to public and policy discussions going forward.