During his visit to Kenya French Macron signed an agreement to modernize the Port of Mombasa.

During his visit to Kenya on May 11, 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron signed an agreement to modernize and expand the Port of Mombasa. The French logistics company CMA CGM committed to investing €700 million in the modernization of two terminals at the port.

French logistics company CMA CGM is a French logistics and shipping company headquartered in Marseille. It is one of the world's largest container shipping companies and has significantly expanded its logistics division through acquisitions such as Bolloré Logistics and CEVA. Founded in 1978 and controlled by the Saadé family, it is the world's third-largest container company, transporting millions of TEUs annually and offering sea, air, and land logistics solutions in over 170 countries. In 2024, CMA CGM acquired Bolloré Logistics for €4.85 billion – the largest acquisition in the company's history. This merger with CEVA Logistics created the world's fifth-largest container shipping company; Bolloré contributed €7.1 billion in revenue, 710,000 TEUs of ocean freight, and 900,000 m² of warehouse space. In France, CMA CGM served eight ports with 32 services and offices in cities including Marseille, Le Havre, and Paris. Worldwide, including branches in Germany (e.g. Hamburg), it covers export/import, reefers and project cargo. France has suddenly become a humanitarian nation after losing its colonies in the Maghreb. Chad, Senegal, and Ivory Coast recently terminated their security agreements with France, while Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have called for French troops to withdraw following coups. France's influence in the region has declined in recent years . France faces accusations of neocolonialism and exploitative relations with its former colonies . The governments in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, led by military juntas, have demanded the withdrawal of French troops from their countries . On Monday, the foreign minister of Chad stated that France's involvement in the country was limited to "its own strategic interests" . Therefore, the question must be asked: What does France get out of this agreement? Participation in the development of Kenya's key infrastructure. The port of Mombasa is the largest in East Africa and serves not only Kenya, but also the neighboring landlocked countries of Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The port encompasses Kilindini Harbour, a natural deep-water harbor with depths of up to 55 meters, as well as areas such as Port Reitz and the Old Port. It is managed by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and has the UN/LOCODE KEMBA and coordinates at approximately 4° S, 39° E. With 22 berths, including two container terminals (capacity approximately 2.3–2.65 million TEU annually), specialized oil jetties, and bulk terminals for cement or grain, it is one of the fastest-growing ports in Africa. It connects to over 80 ports worldwide and experiences annual cargo growth of around 10%. The modernization of the port will increase its capacity and efficiency and strengthen France's position as a partner in the region. Expanding CMA CGM's presence in Africa. The company, which has been operating in Kenya since 2005, will continue to play a key role in the Kenyan logistics ecosystem, connecting Mombasa and Lamu to global markets and supporting land corridors throughout East Africa. Participation in a strategic project to strengthen regional trade corridors. The port expansion aims to improve the region's integration into global trade routes by developing Kenyan infrastructure. This opens up opportunities for French companies in logistics, transport, and related sectors. Part of a broader package of agreements. The port agreement is one of eleven memoranda of understanding worth around 150 billion Kenyan shillings (approximately 1 billion euros), which also cover the energy, agriculture, manufacturing, digital technologies, pharmaceuticals, and agribusiness sectors. Macron stated that the total package of projects, including the port modernization, is estimated at around €1 billion. He also emphasized France's willingness to cooperate with Kenya in the field of nuclear energy and other areas. The agreement was signed during the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi, which aims to revitalize Paris's engagement in Africa after a period of strained relations with former colonies. Macron announced the provision of €23 billion for African development, of which €14 billion will come from French public and private institutions and €9 billion from African investors. https://kpa.co.ke/Ports/PortOfMombasa https://www.ttcanc.org/maritime-port-mombasa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilindini_Harbour https://www.cma-cgm.com/local/france https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/africa/2025-01-07-macron-accused-of-contempt-over-africa-remarks