The Conservative Party’s narrow win in Britain’s general elections on
7 May evoked little interest in Africa but it will have some effect on
policy. Policy outside Europe barely got a mention in the election
campaign, except in the context of the EU’s failed policy on
migration, in particular the thousands of people fleeing war and
poverty trying to cross the Mediterranean to southern Europe.
David Cameron's government is set to tighten immigration rules further,
including self-defeating visa restrictions on foreign students that
encourage so many Africans to study in the United States or Asia.
Although all the main parties spoke of the growing importance of
African economies, none  could produce any new or imaginative policies
on how to boost ties with the continent.

Nevertheless, some British-Africa ties have been reinforced. After
Labour leader Ed Miliband resigned after his party’s defeat, one
frontrunner to lead the party is Chuka Umunna, whose late father was
Nigerian and who takes a strong interest in British policy on Africa.
Cameron’s victory is also a personal victory for his election advisor
Lynton Crosby, who formerly advised Zimbabwe’s Morgan Tsvangirai.
There are mixed lessons for other political consultants selling their
services in Africa: US President Barack Obama’s feted election
strategist David Axelrod advised Miliband, albeit with less success.
However, Axelrod’s team is still celebrating the victory of its star
Nigerian client Muhammadu Buhari last month.