UK To Invest Up To USD 34 Mn Through Partnership With African Union
The United Kingdom announced on Thursday, 21st February, that it will inject USD 34 Mn into prosperity and security projects across Africa.
Prior to signing the partnership in at the African Union Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, UK Minister of State for Africa, Harriett Baldwin said the new partnership will cement the United Kingdom’s relationship with the Africa Union.
She notably mentioned that the collaboration will aid the growth of economic ties to create new opportunities for young people and further reinforc close bonds.
Baldwin continued, “From our support to observers ensuring free and fair elections in Nigeria and Senegal this weekend, to the crucial training our Armed Forces provides to security forces in Kenya, the UK’s partnership with African countries continues to help empower and upskill people across the continent, and this funding will allow us to boost those efforts.”
The funding that will be spread for over 3 years will be directed towards training peacekeepers in Kenya. It will aid free and fair elections and support the next phase of negotiations for the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The partnership will also back concerted efforts to address climate change. Information from the government of
In a bid to increase support for African countries, UK made known their plans to expand their diplomatic network to Chad and Niger in August last year. A press release by the UK government disclosed that the reason they have opted to increase their presence in Africa is to tackle the underlying drivers of instability and conflict.
A part of it read, “The expansion will see the UK step up diplomatic, defence and development engagement in the region, creating new partnerships and opportunities and reducing potential threats to UK and European security.”
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