By RFIPosted on 20-01-2020Modified on 20-01-2020 at 20:52

The first Britain-Africa summit on investments was held this Monday, January 20, in London, a few days before Brexit, Britain's exit from the European Union, at the end of the month. Host of the summit, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pleaded for Britain to be "an investor of choice" for African countries. Twenty-one African countries were represented, including sixteen by their heads of state.

Heads of State from Anglophone and Francophone Africa such as the Nigerian Muhammadu Buhari, the Rwandan Paul Kagamé, the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, and of Guinea Conakry, Alpha Condé… There are sixteen to have made the trip.

Central to the discussions: investment and trade relations between Britain and Africa . London has announced trade deals for more than 7.5 billion euros between British and African companies.

At the end of the day, the British Prime Minister spoke about immigration and the fight against climate change. Boris Johnson said Britain will be more open to African migrants after Brexit .

He also promises that his country will no longer invest in coal mining or combustion, to generate electricity on the continent, but will focus on a transition to low-carbon alternatives.

A few days before leaving the European Union, London displayed its desire to strengthen its presence on the continent. Trade with Africa increased by 14% and investment by 7.5% last year.

They want to show that, although Brexit is a project to reduce Britain's relations with Europe, the country remains very international in its mentality. The second objective is to find an area of ​​activity where Great Britain can act to strengthen its economic relations with another region of the world.

What is Britain looking for by inviting these African countries?

20-01-2020 - By Magali Lagrange

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