The British government deepens its interference in Africa
Hunt meets with Britain's colonial troops in Nigeria
In preparation for its uncertain exit from the European Union, the British government is deepening its destructive interference in Africa as part of its efforts to revive its dead empire, rebranded as Global Britain. In this regard, Britain’s Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, visited 5 African countries, Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Kenya, between 29 April and the 3 May. Britain’s Foreign Office described the aim of Hunt’s visit as “making the case for new UK partnerships across Africa”.
In reality, however, the new ‘partnerships’ which Hunt is seeking to establish are nothing other than the old ‘partnerships’ of racism, colonial oppression and economic plunder for which Britain is notorious across the continent. On the first leg of his trip, in Senegal, Hunt announced £750 million in funding to facilitate British investment in that country and claimed that this was a step in realising Theresa May’s ambition, announced on her trip to South Africa last year, to make Britain the largest G7 investor in Africa by 2022. That Senegal was Hunt’s first stop is evidence of Britain’s financial oligarchy’s determination to come out on top in this new scramble for Africa. This determination was further evidenced by Hunt’s announcement of a new £4 million English language programme to be directed at countries which were previously colonised by the French and Portuguese. Taken together with Britain’s recent establishment of embassies in Niger and Chad and the fact that this was a British foreign secretary’s first visit to a former French colony in Africa in 20 years, it is clear that the British government intends to wrestle various African countries out of the control of the French and Portuguese imperialists. While in Senegal, Hunt also visited Royal Marines who are involved in protecting offshore oil and gas installations being built by British companies BP and Cairn Energy.
In reality, however, the new ‘partnerships’ which Hunt is seeking to establish are nothing other than the old ‘partnerships’ of racism, colonial oppression and economic plunder for which Britain is notorious across the continent. On the first leg of his trip, in Senegal, Hunt announced £750 million in funding to facilitate British investment in that country and claimed that this was a step in realising Theresa May’s ambition, announced on her trip to South Africa last year, to make Britain the largest G7 investor in Africa by 2022. That Senegal was Hunt’s first stop is evidence of Britain’s financial oligarchy’s determination to come out on top in this new scramble for Africa. This determination was further evidenced by Hunt’s announcement of a new £4 million English language programme to be directed at countries which were previously colonised by the French and Portuguese. Taken together with Britain’s recent establishment of embassies in Niger and Chad and the fact that this was a British foreign secretary’s first visit to a former French colony in Africa in 20 years, it is clear that the British government intends to wrestle various African countries out of the control of the French and Portuguese imperialists. While in Senegal, Hunt also visited Royal Marines who are involved in protecting offshore oil and gas installations being built by British companies BP and Cairn Energy.
Hunt launches the English language programme aimed at extending Britain's colonial influence into the previious french and Portuguese colonies
On his visit to Ghana, Hunt signed a strategic partnership agreement with the government of that country. This agreement is aimed at dragging Ghana into the imperial machinations that are spreading chaos and insecurity in wider West Africa. Hunt called on the Ghanaian government to collaborate with Britain in “regional security, especially issues of border security, crime and cyber security”. In addition, the agreement opened the door for Britain to step up its interference in Ghana’s affairs by its call for Ghana to work with Britain “to enhance macroeconomic management and increase Ghana’s domestic revenues through tax reform and well-managed oil and gas revenues”. Continuing his colonialist jaunt across Africa, Hunt arrived in Nigeria. As well as attending the UK/Nigeria Economic Development Forum, which is a mechanism aimed at facilitating the plunder of Nigeria’s resources by British corporations, Hunt also visited the British troops who are stationed in that country, allegedly to ‘fight extremism’ in the form of Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa. In Ethiopia, Hunt announced Britain’s intentions to interfere in the elections in that country, by announcing £15.5 million of ‘aid’ to Ethiopia to ensure that its elections are “transparent, free and fair”, in other words that forces that will serve Britain’s imperial interest in Africa come to power there. Hunt also announced measures to strengthen Britain’s ‘soft power’ with the establishment of the Chevening Africa Media Freedom Fellowship programme which aims to place “60 African journalists to gain experience with leading UK media organisations”. In other words, these journalists are intended to become agents of disinformation working in Africa on behalf of Britain’s imperial interests. On the final stop of his trip, in Kenya, Hunt announced various programmes aimed at facilitating British investment in that country.
The recent trip of Jeremy Hunt to Africa is proof of the British oligarchy’s intention to deepen its interference in all aspects of life in Africa for the sole purpose of securing its economic interests at the expense of Africa and her people. The British oligarchy and its government must end their interference in Africa.
The recent trip of Jeremy Hunt to Africa is proof of the British oligarchy’s intention to deepen its interference in all aspects of life in Africa for the sole purpose of securing its economic interests at the expense of Africa and her people. The British oligarchy and its government must end their interference in Africa.
