Theresa May in Africa: cynical post-Brexit development agenda smacks of desperation

United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May visited Africa in August 2018 calling into South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya. The trip was promoted as the means for deepening economic ties between Britain and the region in preparation for a post-Brexit UK and its new Global Britain strategy.

The visit came at a time of enormous change across Africa with a unique opportunity, as the UK moved towards Brexit, for a truly Global Britain to invest in and work alongside African nations, with mutual benefits. The UK government set a new ambition for the UK to be the largest G7 investor in Africa by 2022.

Further information

Mrs May was not the only major European leader visiting Africa at this time. German Chancellor Angela Merkel also visited Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria in late August 2018.

• Primary Source

EurActiv: The Brief, 30.08.18: May’s merry-go-round https://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/the-brief-mays-merry-go-round/

LSE European Institute: EuroppBlog, 03.08.17: How Brexit could harm African economies that trade with the UK and disrupt regional integration http://www.europeansources.info/record/how-brexit-could-harm-african-economies-that-trade-with-the-uk-and-disrupt-regional-integration/

Chatham House: Expert Comment, 29.08.18: Theresa May’s Focus on UK–Africa Ties Is Long Overdue https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/theresa-may-s-focus-uk-africa-ties-long-overdue

The Conversation, 07.09.18: Britain has no hope of catching up with China in Africa https://theconversation.com/britain-has-no-hope-of-catching-up-with-china-in-africa-102604

UK: GOV.UK: Prime Minister's Office: Collection, August 2018: PM visit to Africa https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/pm-visit-to-africa

International Politics and Society: Article, 30.08.18: Take Africa seriously! https://www.ips-journal.eu/regions/africa/article/show/take-africa-seriously-2949/

Deutsche Welle, 28.08.18: Business and migration to shape Merkel's trip to West Africa https://p.dw.com/p/33u9c

Germany: Federal Government: News, 29.08.18: German Government's Africa Policy. How Germany and Africa work together https://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/EN/Artikel/2018/08_en/2018-08-29-afrikapolitik_en.html

IEA: Article, 29.08.18: Leaving EU Protectionism Behind: How lowering barriers to trade with Africa can create genuine economic partnership https://iea.org.uk/leaving-eu-protectionism-behind-how-lowering-barriers-to-trade-with-africa-can-create-genuine-economic-partnership/

German Foreign Policy.com, 30.08.18: How to Create Refugees https://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/news/detail/7707/

BBC News, 28.08.18: Theresa May pledges Africa investment boost after Brexit https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-45325701

Conservative Home, 31.08.18: May understands the importance of trade with Africa, even if the usual suspects sneer at the idea https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2018/08/iain-dale-may-understands-the-importance-of-trade-with-africa-even-if-the-usual-suspects-sneer-at-the-idea.html

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