Russian channel Rybar analyzed the British expansion into Africa.
The most interesting part of the material lies in the current state of Great Britain’s policies towards African continent and how it tried to maintain position after the disband of colonial empire.
▪️In the middle of 20th century British government after the pressure from the US decided to change its format of interaction with the newly formed states. Despite granting them formal independence, Great Britain replaced direct control with an indirect one.
Most of the former colonies did not have any national industries or skilled workers to develop them. Trying to gain something by selling resources was also destined to fail, since the international market was already divided between developed states.
The most logical way for local leaders in this dire situation was to ask its former colonizer and British companies for a help to win some place under the sun. Thus newly formed countries sold themselves to UK and were forced to play by its rules in hopes of gaining access to the international market and develop somehow.
▪️The main British interest in African countries lies in mining, mineral extraction and financial services, since the continent is viewed as a source of raw materials. Thus 88% of all Great Britain’s investments in the region lie in these spheres. Other fields that African really need to improve, like communication and agriculture, are overlooked.
▪️Moreover, Britain maintains a military presence on the territory of about 40 countries of Africa. The UK government justifies its presence by training African personnel, peacekeeping missions and the fight against terrorism.
But all this activity, for the most part, exists only on paper, and the situation of fragmentation and terrorism has not improved at all during the time British “peacekeepers” have been on the continent.
▪️The situation to this day doesn’t look so good. Dependence on Britain persists. However, with the rise of other foreign players in the end of 20th and beginning of 21st centuries, Africa can see some improvements.
