Thread by @Helenreflects

Ouch. Kenya's president Uhuru Kenyatta said, about May's visit to Kenya that he was “honoured our invitation to come and see for yourself our country and continent that has changed in the last nearly four decades since a UK prime minister visited” 1/

I don't see many upsides to Brexit. But here is potentially one: the UK's now feeling so insecure they can apparently be bothered in visiting an African country for the first time in 40 years, and acknowledge its bright future and shared values. 2/

The UK's first trade deal post-Brexit is essentially replication and possible extension of the EU's arrangement for a group of nations known as Least Developed Countries (LDCs), basically this is a duty-free access for their goods to the EU. 3/
bbc.co.uk/news/business-…

Not all African countries are under this regime, of course. But many are negotiating economic partnership agreements with the EU right now. Of course, "The UK could theoretically improve access to African farm products by lowering food standards" 4/
ft.com/content/b4f9b3…

The UK's weak negotiating position due to smaller market size will play a role in any future agreement it seeks to negotiate, including in Africa. 5/

A preview of things to come:
"May, realising there was no way out, joined in. First came some tentative footsteps, then a full-blown attempt to copy the move" 6/
theguardian.com/politics/2018/…

I hope the UK stay true to their words and invest in African countries, and won't go all nasty and neo-colonialist (after all, the Windrush scandal is still fresh in our minds, and I have no doubt racism is deeply rooted in our political class). 7/

I also hope that the UK is willing to learn from African countries, for instance, Uganda's refugee policies which allow them free movement and right to work - a contrast with the very restrictive way refugees are treated here. 8/
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Or maybe the UK could learn from African countries that they are stronger together in a big union that allows free movement of goods and people?
The African Union (AU) has adopted a Free Movement Protocol and a draft plan of action to go with it.
theconversation.com/how-the-free-m… 9/

See here the African Union's draft treaty text. "GUIDED by our common vision for an integrated, people-centered and politically united continent and our commitment to free movement of people, goods and services amongst the Member States"
au.int/sites/default/…
10/

(this is a beautiful text by the way). The text stipulates that free movement of persons, goods and services across Africa will "promote integration, Pan-Africanism, enhance science, technology, education, research and foster tourism, ... trade and investment 11/

"REAFFIRMING our belief in our common destiny, shared values and the affirmation of the African identity, the celebration of unity in diversity and the institution of the African citizenship"
Something the UK can learn from. 12/

The EU's principle of the four freedoms are being implemented across the world, because it works. It creates opportunities and fosters economic and political integration. I do hope the UK will learn from Africa, and will hold true to all their promises.
/ends