confidentially speaking
The Africa Confidential Blog
Britain's Africa continental shift
Blue Lines
Britain's Africa relations have
been peppered in recent years with near misses, faux pas and a general lack of
policy, but this may be changing with major conferences on migration,
next month in Malta, and on
climate change, in Paris in December. British diplomats are trying hard
to get agreements in advance with African delegations. Britain has
extracted itself from its declaration of 2013 that it would have 'only
essential contacts' with Kenya's
President Uhuru Kenyatta, then
under indictment by the International Criminal Court. This reversal was
due to some nimble diplomacy by Christian
Turner, Britain’s High Commissioner in Nairobi. Now British
Prime Minister David Cameron
is due in Kenya on a state visit next year.
Nigerian voters brought to an
end the difficult relations between Britain and President Goodluck Jonathan, who had held an
awkward meeting with Cameron a year ago. We understand that UK
officials are now planning a meeting between Cameron and Muhammadu Buhari, Jonathan’s well
regarded successor. President Buhari has already been feted in
Washington and Paris.
British-South Africa relations
are still problematic: President Jacob
Zuma failed to turn up at a scheduled meeting with Cameron last
year, citing a calendar clash. However, this week Britain has welcomed
to London Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma,
Chairwoman of the African Union Commission. She also happens to be the
leading contender to succeed her former husband, Jacob Zuma, in the
presidency.