Terms of Reference
This inquiry will be an opportunity to examine how the FCO engages at a strategic level across sub-Saharan Africa on key issues of importance to the UK such as security, migration, and trade. It will consider how effective that engagement is compared to other actors in the region (such as China, Russia and the Gulf States) and how the FCO might strengthen and improve its strategy to Africa.
The inquiry will use the FCO's strategic document 'The UK's new approach to Sub-Saharan Africa 10 Key Messages' and the former Prime Minister Theresa May's speech in Cape Town on 28 August 2018 as its basis. These two documents were described by the then Minister of State for Africa as "the framework that we are working across Government with other Departments to underpin the approach that we are taking over the next decade."
The Committee would welcome written submissions which address the following issues:
- How effective is the FCO's ‘New approach to Sub-Saharan Africa?’ Is it clear what this approach is trying to achieve? Is it an effective means of delivering UK influence in the continent?
- How effectively do different UK Government departments work together to achieve UK ambitions in Africa?
- How realistic are the UK's ambitions, as defined in their 'New approach to sub-Saharan Africa', and the reality of the UK's engagement on the ground?
- Which countries outside of Africa are most influential in the continent? How do they achieve their influence? Should the UK be learning from these countries approach or trying to counter it?
- Does the FCO maximise its relationships in Africa with regards to cooperation on security, migration, and trade? What more could it be doing?
- In countries such as Sudan and Zimbabwe, has the UK done enough to support and promote democratic transitions of government? What more could it do to assist? How can we build longer term partnerships?