In his first ministerial visit to the African continent, Collins of Highbury, the United Kingdom's Minister for Africa, met with Angolan President Joao Lourenco to create stronger strategic, diplomatic, and development ties between the two nations..Lord Highbury also noted his appreciation to President Lourenco for Angola's efforts in securing a ceasefire between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, two nations which have been fighting a protracted conflict which began in 2012 and gained fervor in 2021..What You Need to Know.Kicking off a four-day visit to the Southern African nation on Wednesday, Lord Highbury set out to discuss trade, investment, climate change and conflict mediation with President Lourenco, specifically touching on the Lobito Corridor–a 1,300 mile railway aiming to connect the DRC with Zambia's copper belt to an existing line in Angola..The line aims to expedite the process of getting critical minerals to US and European markets, and according to the United States' Insitute of Peace, "bolster African economic development and reduce reliance on China for critical mineral supply lines.".Seeking to diversify its economy, the UK expressed its interest in agricultural, health, energy, infrastructure and financial services partnerships with Angola..Already, the UK's British Petroleum (BP) is one of Angola's main foreign investors, operating two offshore blocks and holding non-operated stakes in four other blocks..In March of 2022, BP and Eni–an Italian integrated energy company–launched 'Azule Energy,' a combination of the two companies' Angolan businesses..With both Eni and BP holding a 50/50 stake in Azule Energy, the new company is expected to become Angola's largest oil and gas producer..Outside of trade ties was a desire to expand on a strategic partnership between the two nations according to local press, although the details of this part of the discussion have not been released..So, What Now?.The UK has become Europe's latest nation attempting to court Angola, who has positioned itself as a keen mediator in the conflict between the DRC and Rwanda. The UK and Angola have maintained strong economic ties through the British company BP, while the UK has maintained its support for demining programs in the country–announcing in February its intent to implement a 17 million pound ($21 million) demining program across Africa and Asia in which Angola is set to benefit..With three days left of Lord Highbury's ministerial visit to the country, it is likely more discussions on various focus areas are to take place.
In his first ministerial visit to the African continent, Collins of Highbury, the United Kingdom's Minister for Africa, met with Angolan President Joao Lourenco to create stronger strategic, diplomatic, and development ties between the two nations..Lord Highbury also noted his appreciation to President Lourenco for Angola's efforts in securing a ceasefire between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, two nations which have been fighting a protracted conflict which began in 2012 and gained fervor in 2021..What You Need to Know.Kicking off a four-day visit to the Southern African nation on Wednesday, Lord Highbury set out to discuss trade, investment, climate change and conflict mediation with President Lourenco, specifically touching on the Lobito Corridor–a 1,300 mile railway aiming to connect the DRC with Zambia's copper belt to an existing line in Angola..The line aims to expedite the process of getting critical minerals to US and European markets, and according to the United States' Insitute of Peace, "bolster African economic development and reduce reliance on China for critical mineral supply lines.".Seeking to diversify its economy, the UK expressed its interest in agricultural, health, energy, infrastructure and financial services partnerships with Angola..Already, the UK's British Petroleum (BP) is one of Angola's main foreign investors, operating two offshore blocks and holding non-operated stakes in four other blocks..In March of 2022, BP and Eni–an Italian integrated energy company–launched 'Azule Energy,' a combination of the two companies' Angolan businesses..With both Eni and BP holding a 50/50 stake in Azule Energy, the new company is expected to become Angola's largest oil and gas producer..Outside of trade ties was a desire to expand on a strategic partnership between the two nations according to local press, although the details of this part of the discussion have not been released..So, What Now?.The UK has become Europe's latest nation attempting to court Angola, who has positioned itself as a keen mediator in the conflict between the DRC and Rwanda. The UK and Angola have maintained strong economic ties through the British company BP, while the UK has maintained its support for demining programs in the country–announcing in February its intent to implement a 17 million pound ($21 million) demining program across Africa and Asia in which Angola is set to benefit..With three days left of Lord Highbury's ministerial visit to the country, it is likely more discussions on various focus areas are to take place.
