France is committed to a profound restructuring of its African strategy. After decades of dominant influence in French-speaking Africa, Paris today faces a historic challenge to its political, military and diplomatic presence on the continent. The forced withdrawal of French forces from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger marked a major turning point in relations between France and the Sahel, revealing the gradual collapse of a model of influence inherited from Françafrique. Faced with this loss of anchor in his former French-speaking pre-square, President Emmanuel Macron now seems to be launching a new diplomatic offensive directed towards the African anglophone powers. The co-organisation by France and Kenya of the Africa Forward 2026 event in Nairobi illustrates this new strategic direction. Far from being a mere economic or diplomatic forum, Africa Forward 2026 appears as the symbol of a redefinition of the French presence in Africa. ...