Trade push expected as May arrives in Africa

THERESA May is preparing to fly to Africa on a three-nation trade mission in an attempt to bolster Britain’s post-Brexit fortunes.

Mrs May will visit South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya as she makes her first trip to the continent since becoming Prime Minister in 2016.

She will be accompanied by a 29-strong business delegation, saying her aim is to “deepen and strengthen” partnerships around the world as the UK prepares to leave the EU in 2019.

Security will also feature on her agenda, with the threat of Boko Haram in Nigeria and elsewhere in west Africa and the work of British troops in Kenya to help countries fight al-Shabaab militants in Somalia under consideration.

Mrs May’s visit to Nairobi will mark the first by a British prime minister to Kenya since Margaret Thatcher in 1988.

It is also the first to Africa by a British PM since David Cameron in 2013 for Nelson Mandela’s memorial service.

Mrs May will fly into South Africa’s legislative capital Cape Town today, where she will meet young people before delivering a keynote speech on trade and how UK private sector investment can be brought into Africa.

Mrs May said: “Africa stands right on the cusp of playing a transformative role in the global economy, and as longstanding partners this trip is a unique opportunity at a unique time for the UK to set out our ambition to work even closer together.

“A more prosperous, growing and trading Africa is in all of our interests. As we prepare to leave the European Union, now is the time for the UK to deepen and strengthen its global partnerships.”