The Africa Forward Summit is a landmark gathering of African Heads of State, the President of France, the African Union, international financial institutions, and development partners - convened to produce concrete commitments and a new model of partnership between Africa and France.
Motsepe will speak at the Africa Forward Summit on Monday, May 11. Kenya is amongst the three East African nations that will host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from June-July 2027 – the biggest sporting event on African soil.
Motsepe will hold several meetings with senior officials from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda on the 2027 AFCON preparations.
2027 AFCON first to be co-hosted
The 2027 edition will be the first to be hosted by three countries, and the first in five decades to be organised in the CECAFA region, since it was hosted by Ethiopia in 1976.
This event is part of the Africa Cup of Nations' 70th anniversary, and will be the last one to be held in odd-numbered years, as CAF announced in December 2025 that AFCON would become a quadrennial tournament from 2028 onwards.
Kenya is expected to champion e-mobility at the upcoming Africa Summit, with local firms in the sector pushing for innovation and funding partnerships with the French and the European Union.
The summit is jointly hosted by Presidents William Ruto and Emmanuel Macron of France. It marks the first time since 1973 that an Africa-France Summit is being held in an English-speaking African country.
At least 30 African heads of state are expected in Nairobi for the forum that has also attracted more than 1,500 business leaders and global investors.
Tanzania implements security strategies
With Motsepe expected in East Africa, Tanzania have implemented robust security strategies ahead of the AFCON tournament, ensuring the games are held in a safe and secure environment.
According to Daily News, the preparations were discussed during a meeting of the 2027 AFCON National Committee with the Head of Sports Security at the United Nations, Valeroo de Divitiis, already in Dar es Salaam.
Speaking at the meeting, Acting Director of Sports Development, Boniface Tamba, stressed the importance of comprehensive security measures to guarantee that 2027 AFCON matches take place in safe, stable conditions that meet international standards.
Additionally, the meeting focused on enhancing coordination between security and sports institutions, conducting risk assessments, and establishing robust security management systems to ensure Tanzania meets its obligations as a host nation.
The opening match will be played on Saturday, June 19, and the final on Saturday, July 17. The dates were approved by the FIFA Council recently held in Vancouver, Canada.
CAF will announce the country that will host the opening match and the final in due course. With the preliminary round completed, the journey to Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will continue with the draw for the qualifiers on May 19.