The United Kingdom has unveiled a new Africa strategy that prioritises trade and investment over traditional aid, aligning with a broader global shift led by the United States and other Western economies toward commercial partnerships on the continent.
Speaking at the policy launch, Africa Minister Jenny Chapman said the UK was “moving from donor to investor”, signalling a sharper focus on economic partnership agreements and on mobilising private capital.
The strategy comes after Britain reduced its aid budget by 40 percent this year, a move that has drawn scrutiny but which officials argue frees up resources to support longer-term growth through investment.
Chapman said the approach is designed to unlock private finance for sectors that African governments have identified as priorities, including infrastructure, energy, and industrial development.
She added that the UK will also use its upcoming G20 presidency in 2027 to push for reforms to the global debt architecture, an issue that has weighed heavily on several African economies, which are facing rising borrowing costs and constrained fiscal space.
“The whole point of this is to scale up private capital for Africa’s development priorities,” Chapman said, underscoring the shift away from grant-based assistance.
The policy marks one of London’s most significant Africa-focused moves since the current government took office more than a year ago. It also comes at a time of heightened uncertainty in global trade, following months of volatile tariff decisions from Washington that have disrupted supply chains.
Post-Brexit Britain has been actively seeking new trade relationships, and Africa’s fast-growing markets are increasingly central to that push.
The United States has similarly signalled its intent to deepen commercial ties, particularly around critical minerals and energy, reinforcing Africa’s rising importance in global economic strategy.
Source: BBC
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