French President Emmanuel Macron called out attendees for making noise during the Africa Forward Summit held at the University of Nairobi.
In a viral clip seen by TNX Africa, as discussions on culture continued, President Macron interrupted the speeches and asked attendees to maintain silence.
“Hey! Hey! Hey! I am sorry guys, but it’s impossible to speak about culture and people coming here and making a speech with such noise,” he said, drawing murmurs and applause from the crowd.
After a short pause, Macron continued, “This is a total lack of respect. So I suggest, if you want to have a bilateral and speak about something else, you have the other room or you can go outside. If you want to stay here, you listen to the people and we play the same game.”
Video shows the moment French President Emmanuel Macron pauses a speaker mid-presentation at Nairobi University to demand silence from a noisy audience.
Macron is in Kenya for the ‘Africa Forward’ summit. pic.twitter.com/UWwCVoNkD1
— Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) May 11, 2026
People on social media shared mixed reactions to Macron’s sentiments. On Instagram, Noah wrote, “That’s a positive approach.” Another user, Matty Blinks, added, “Good for him, one thing I love about the French, they act straight away and not wait or do nothing.”
Supported by Presidents Emmanuel Macron and William Ruto, the “Africa Forward: Inspire & Connect” summit brought together more than 1,500 business and government leaders from across Africa and France.
The two-day summit featured several influential African heads of state, including Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Paul Kagame of Rwanda. The forum served as a platform for attendees to build partnerships focused on developing industries together and launching ambitious projects. The gathering also hosted more than 30 heads of state seeking stronger cooperation and practical ways to grow economies.
During his visit, Macron met star athlete Eliud Kipchoge, renowned chef Dennis Ombachi, singer Bien-Aimé Baraza and manager Chiki Kuruka on different occasions. He also interacted with pupils from State House Primary School and captioned a clip on Instagram, “Made new friends today.”