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Macron Snaps at Crowd During Kenya Summit: 'Total Lack of Respect' | WATCH VIDEO
French President Emmanuel Macron abruptly interrupted a session at the 2026 Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi on Monday to criticise audience members for what he described as a “lack of respect”. The incident took place during a presentation at University of Nairobi, where panelists were speaking as part of the summit’s youth-focused “Inspire and Connect” session.
Video shared by Reuters showed Macron rising from his seat and walking towards the stage while a speaker was addressing the audience. “Already?” one panellist joked as he approached. “You’re not waiting your turn.”
Macron then took the microphone and repeatedly called out “Hey” in an attempt to quiet the crowd.
“Excuse me everybody,” he said. “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.”
“This is a total lack of respect, so I suggest if you want to have bilaterals or speak about something else, you have bilateral rooms or you go outside,” he continued.
French President Emmanuel Macron interrupted the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, to hush the crowd as artists and young speakers addressed the crowd, calling the noise 'a total lack of respect' https://t.co/PUpxw70qaL pic.twitter.com/Kfx8Y3wAcj
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 11, 2026
“If you want to stay here, we listen to the people and we’re playing the same game.”
The remarks were followed by applause from parts of the audience.
The Africa Forward Summit is jointly hosted by Kenya and France and aims to promote cooperation between African countries and international partners.
According to the summit’s organisers, the event seeks to “demonstrate the African continent’s innovation capacity” and encourage “transformative partnership” through multilateral cooperation.
More than 30 African leaders, business figures and young entrepreneurs are attending the gathering.
Earlier during his visit to Kenya, Macron posted a video on social media showing himself dancing during a welcome ceremony as people sang “Hakuna Matata”.
“Jambo,” he wrote alongside the clip. “Africa Forward!”
Later, the French president shared another video showing him meeting schoolchildren and jogging with Kenyan marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge.
“Made new friends today!” Macron wrote in the caption.
