UK Foreign Secretary Seeks to Reshape Relations with Africa

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is concluding his initial visit to Africa, a trip intended to re-establish connections with the continent’s 54 nations. He articulated the objectives for his journey to Nigeria and South Africa, Africa’s two most significant powers, stating: “Our new approach will deliver respectful partnerships that listen rather than tell, deliver long-term growth rather than short-term solutions and build a freer, safer, more prosperous continent.” This tour follows Lammy’s appointment as foreign secretary within the Labour government, which assumed power earlier this year. Since the Labour party last held office in 2010, the relationships between African countries and other global powers have undergone substantial transformation. Currently, China stands as the primary trade partner for numerous African nations, while Russia has progressively expanded its presence, including by providing military assistance to West African states engaged in combating jihadist groups. Wealthy Gulf states, alongside Turkey, have also increased their influence across the continent through the formation of business and military agreements. Conversely, UK-Africa relations have been “a lot more lacklustre,” according to Alex Vines, who leads the Africa programme at Chatham House, a London-based research institution. This is particularly evident in the relationship between the UK and South Africa, its largest trading partner on the continent, and the current trip represents an “attempt to reboot that,” he added. Lammy affirmed: “I want to hear what our African partners need and foster relationships so that the UK and our friends and partners in Africa can grow together.” Britain possesses a long-standing presence on the African continent. A lengthy—and at times complex—history forms the foundation of many of its connections with African countries. Nearly all of its former colonies on the continent are members of the Commonwealth, although the group has also welcomed countries without this historical link to the UK, such as Rwanda, Togo, and Gabon. Angola has also submitted an application for membership. “The Commonwealth will likely continue to be a key platform,” commented Nicole Beardsworth, an academic at South Africa’s Wits University. As its former colonies achieved independence in the mid-20th century, Britain maintained a kind of “big brother” role. However, this dynamic is now undergoing a shift. Dr. Vines observed that Africa was not prominently featured in a significant document released last year, which outlined the UK’s global priorities. He noted: “There were name checks to countries like Nigeria and South Africa and Kenya in it, but there wasn’t much written.” Dr. Vines further stated his expectation that South Africa-UK relations will improve under the Labour government, owing to its historical ties with the anti-apartheid movement that opposed white-minority rule. He explained: “That comes from the anti-apartheid struggle and the solidarity that Labour and people that were the Labour movement provided for combating apartheid.” Dr. Beardsworth, however, pointed out that former Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May endeavored to strengthen ties with Africa, but her initiatives were “scuppered” following her resignation in 2019 amidst internal party unrest. Subsequently, the UK experienced an unprecedented succession of prime ministers who contended with domestic crises, the UK’s departure from the European Union, and the Covid pandemic. “Africa fell off the radar,” Dr. Beardsworth remarked, specifying that the controversial and now-abandoned agreement to transfer some asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda was an exception. The UK Foreign Office indicated that Africa, being the world’s youngest continent with a median age of 19, offers future opportunities. A statement from the office declared: “Africa has huge growth potential, with the continent on track to make up 25% of the world’s population by 2050.” Given the UK’s ageing population—a trend observed across much of the developed world—Dr. Vines suggested that the exchange of skills would increase. He added that migration is an “emotive and complicated issue,” but cautioned that the UK and other Western nations should avoid “cherry-picking the best and corroding African states from being successful themselves.” The UK Foreign Office affirmed that “growth is the core mission of this government and will underpin our relationships in Nigeria, South Africa and beyond.” It also stated that this would lead to “more jobs and more opportunities for Brits and Africans alike.” Historically, the UK’s policy towards Africa has largely centered on development aid, but this funding has been significantly reduced in recent years as the country grapples with its own economic challenges. Dr. Vines acknowledged that aid can be crucial for addressing humanitarian crises, climate impacts, and financing projects aimed at expanding Africa’s private sector, yet he does not foresee the Labour government increasing this funding. He commented: “When you had a previous Labour government under Tony Blair, Britain saw itself as a global superpower for international development – that’s no longer the case.” Dr. Beardsworth anticipates that relations will become more economically focused and “much more mutually beneficial.” She suggested that this shift could also involve the normalization of the UK’s relations with Zimbabwe, potentially leading to Harare’s re-admission to the Commonwealth after ties deteriorated during the tenure of the late Robert Mugabe. Disagreements on international matters, such as the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, might also be less publicly emphasized. South Africa’s stance on both conflicts has diverged from that of many Western nations. However, South African analyst Yanga Molotana does not consider this a significant impediment. She elaborated: “Two things can exist at the same time – I can still hold my position, I can still hold my views, and we can still have a mutually beneficial relationship without the moral pressure of you saying that I have to agree with everything that you say.” Dr. Vines concurred, stating his expectation that the UK will continue to advocate for multi-party democracy in Africa, but with “less finger-wagging, and more quiet diplomacy.” He believes: “The concern is probably going to be more regularly raised in private.”