Five activists arrested in Nairobi for staging anti-France protest during Africa Forward Summit

Five human rights defenders, including foreign nationals, were arrested in Nairobi’s Central Business District after staging demonstrations against the Africa Forward Summit.

The activists, who marched along Uhuru Highway chanting slogans against France, were teargassed by police officers who intercepted them near the GPO roundabout.

The human rights defenders expressed displeasure over what they termed as France’s growing interest in the East African region, claiming it is partly responsible for political instability and poverty in parts of West Africa.

They also called on President William Ruto to revoke bilateral agreements signed between Kenya and France, arguing that Kenya risks losing in the long run.

“If France is interested in a genuine partnership with Nairobi, what has happened in Ouagadougou and the Sahel region? We know for a fact no development has happened in West Africa,” said

“What have they done to the Saher region, what have they done to Cote d’Ivoire, what have they done to Gaddafi and Libya? That is the heritage of the French imperialism, not in the 19th, 20th, but in the 21st century,” added  Vijay Prashad, Tricontinental Institute for Social Research Executive Director.