DESNÉ MASIE: Africa remains strategically important to Britain in the Brexit era

We are in the midst of busy quarter four here in London, as the year closes with the frenzied dash of events and deals of the Christmas countdown.

In the whirlwind of meetings and calls over the past few weeks, I have been struck by the continued strategic importance of Africa to the UK and the wider international community, particularly in the post-Brexit setting and the turbulence brought about by the Russian invasion of Ukraine just as the world was recovering from Covid. 

The recent Africa events calendar has included the enormous, two-day annual Afsic conference at the Westminster Park Plaza, focused on financial services; the launch of Lord Peter Hain’s latest book about animal poaching, The Elephant Conspiracy, at the SA embassy; and the 120th anniversary of the Royal African Society celebrating “Creative Africa” at the dazzling Aqua Shard near London Bridge.

But the event that really stood out in my mind for its quality and reach was the annual, not-to-be-missed FT Africa Summit finally returning to its classy in-person format at Claridges in Mayfair after the pandemic’s hiatus. 

The FT Africa Summit has always had the highest quality of speakers and attendees no matter your regional or sectoral interests, and the production and topics were again wide ranging, including the most pressing issues on the global agenda. However, despite the sumptuous, quintessentially English surroundings of Claridges and the intellectual stimulation of the conference, what really made the biggest impression on me was the warm hospitality of the FT team, particularly our host, Africa editor David Pilling, and his colleagues, FT Weekend editor Alec Russell and editor-in-chief Roula Khalaf. I couldn’t resist mischievously asking Khalaf what it was really like to interview Elon Musk. I was amazed at how overjoyed I was over being at this event again after such a long time. 

Despite an extremely hectic 48 hours, Pilling made each of us  feel right at home and remained thoughtful and engaging as ever throughout. I asked him what he thought of the event a few days later.  He said: “I think the  FT Africa summit has become a really high-calibre event in which we are able to demonstrate the seriousness with which we cover Africa by showcasing some of the brightest minds, most interesting entrepreneurs and most influential politicians on the continent. This year was arguably the best one yet in which the investment theme ran through the day, starting with a sharp — and not uncontroversial — interview with the president of [the Democratic Republic of Congo] and ending with a thoughtful keynote address from SA’s foreign minister. The level of panel discussions was simply outstanding.”

Indeed, the panels covered everything from investing in African art, which is having a moment, to Africa’s just energy transition and the outlook for venture capital in Africa. Pilling and his team had also made the inspired choice of inviting Madame Fatou Bensouda, the former International Criminal Court prosecutor, to give the keynote address. Bensouda reminded the audience not to forget the importance of governance, human rights and the rule of law in the investment environment, and how these elements are crucial for sustainable business on the continent. 

I left the evening with a stack of invaluable business cards, and warmed by thoughtful conversations with friends old and new. I reflected on the magic of having in-person events again in London, and how much I missed this sort of thing during Covid. I have always made the most of living in this magnificent city, with its kind and hard-working people, but this year’s FT Summit and all the other events I have been to have been extra special as we finally seem to be able to bid a firm farewell to lockdowns.

• Dr Masie, a former senior editor of the Financial Mail, is chief strategist at IC Publications in London.