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Britain’s Focus Is Supporting Development In Africa That Prevents And Stops Conflict

BY Soko Directory Team · April 25, 2023 08:04 am

The UK government has reiterated its commitment to developing its’s relationships and investments in Africa amidst the various challenges facing the continent.

Speaking today during a lecture at The Royal African Society, Britain’s leading platform for African voices in the UK, Hon. Andrew Mitchell MP, Minister of State responsible for Development and Africa said that the government will continue cooperating with African governments in response to climate change and conflict, and Africa’s role in global institutions. 

“Development is above all about stopping conflict: stopping it from starting; stopping it once it’s already begun; and reconciling parties after a conflict. If we look at the unfolding Sudan crisis, our focus as a government is to achieve a “binding ceasefire” which can ultimately lead to the restoration of “civilian government in the country”, said Hon. Mitchell. 

The Minister offered a broad historical overview of the progress that has been made on pivotal development challenges over the last 25 years but noted that COVID-19 – as well as the war in Ukraine – have reversed some of these strides. 

Hon. Mitchell observed that he was cognizant of, and understood, frustrations among many Africans that Western efforts to promote vaccine access during the pandemic had been limited, and that African issues had been given less attention following Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. 

On the issue of climate change, and the provision of investment to promote climate mitigation and adaption strategies, Hon. Mitchell emphasized the British government’s ongoing commitment to support communities in Africa to respond to a deteriorating ecological and climate reality.

 ‘’It is sad that a beautiful country such as Niger loses the equivalent of 500 football pitches in arable every day as a result of desertification and inadequate water systems. This is why the access to climate financing, and provision of capital for key climate mitigation projects remains a key concern of the FCDO and British International Investment,’’ said Hon. Mitchell. 

Commenting on the Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP’s remarks, Royal African Society Chair Arunma Oteh OON stated: “Andrew Mitchell ranks as among the most well-informed British politicians on African affairs, and his commitment to championing the continent’s development and advocating for it in British public life, has been exemplary. Throughout Andrew Mitchell’s tenure as Minister of State in the FCDO responsible for Development and Africa, and in his previous role as Secretary of State for International Development, I have greatly valued cooperation with Andrew, and would like to take this opportunity to thank him both for his remarks today and his longstanding record of work on African development.” 

In both Hon. Mitchell’s opening remarks and the discussion which followed, the Minister of State emphasized the importance of partnership for the government, in addressing key African concerns, multiplying the positive effects of development investment, and ensuring that solutions are not unilaterally prescribed by the Global North but instead reflect the views and experiences of Africans on the ground. 

Hon. Mitchell spoke about his historic and ongoing collaboration with various organizations playing a role in Britain’s development policy towards Africa – thanking counterparts in academia and development finance for their counsel and advice. 

Appointed Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) on 25 October 2022, Andrew Mitchell is an experienced parliamentarian who has represented his Sutton Coldfield constituency since 2001. Mitchell attained his first ministerial post in May 2010, when he was appointed Secretary of State for International Development, a tenure which ended in September 2012.  

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