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French President Emmanuel Macron drew sharp criticism from members of his own country's legislature after he grabbed a microphone and commanded an audience to be quiet or leave during a cultural panel at a summit in Nairobi, with opposition lawmakers accusing him of acting like a colonizer on African soil.
The incident occurred during the Africa Forward Summit in Kenya's capital, where local performers dressed in traditional attire were presenting African culture on stage. As noise rose in the hall, Macron stepped up to the podium, took the microphone from the host and turned to face the crowd.
"Excuse me friends, hey, hey, hey. I'm sorry friends, but with this much noise, it's impossible for such inspiring people to come here, speak and talk about culture," Macron told the audience, accusing attendees of disrespecting the speakers.
He went on to invite those who wished to hold private conversations to leave the room, saying separate areas were available for bilateral meetings.
The intervention prompted swift backlash in France, particularly from lawmakers of the left-wing La France Insoumise party. MP Daniele Obono, posting on X, drew an explicit connection to France's history of colonial rule in Africa, saying Macron "could not help but act like a colonizer the moment he set foot on the African continent."
Fellow LFI member Nadege Abomangoli was more caustic, sharing video of the moment with the comment: "No, this is not Michael Scott from The Office. This is our President Emmanuel Macron acting like a colonizer in Kenya."
The criticism lands at a particularly sensitive moment for French-African relations. France has faced mounting pressure across the continent in recent years, with several of its former African partners severing defense and diplomatic ties. The question of how French officials conduct themselves on African soil has become increasingly charged as post-colonial resentment has deepened across the region.
La France Insoumise, the party founded by Jean-Luc Melenchon, has been among the most vocal critics of what it describes as France's continued paternalistic posture toward Africa, and the Nairobi episode gave its lawmakers fresh material to press that argument.
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