Tony Blair and Africa

Background

Africa was at the heart of Mr Blair’s foreign policy whilst he was Prime Minister – from the Commission for Africa and the Gleneagles summit to the military intervention in Sierra Leone. Since leaving Office he has renewed his commitment to Africa’s development by creating the Africa Governance Initiative, of which he now acts as Patron and high-level adviser.

 The Commission for Africa was set up in early 2004 by Tony Blair. See here for the Commission's report "Our Common Interest", published on 11 March 2005.

 The Africa Progress Panel (APP) was formed in 2007 as a vehicle to maintain a focus on the commitments to Africa made by the international community in the wake of the Gleneagles G8 Summit and of the Commission for Africa Report.

Tony Blair on Africa

"Africa has been at the top of my foreign policy for the last 10 years. From the very beginning I wanted to forge a new partnership with African leaders and countries. Not based on rich and poor or donor and recipient but based on common values of justice, democracy and human rights; a partnership of trust and equality.

Above all, and most controversially, Africa has been a prime example of a foreign policy that has been thoroughly interventionist. I believe in the power of political action to make the world better and the moral obligation to use it.

I do not believe that in this time - the early 21st Century - international politics can be just about nations' interests, narrowly and traditionally defined.

I believe that now, today, our self interest is in substantial part defined by the well-being of others; that the consequence of globalisation is that our best chance of security and prosperity lies in advancing freedom, opportunity and justice for all.

It follows that where oppression, poverty and injustice exist, it is not only our duty but also in our self-interest to do what we can to bring about change for the better.

Nowhere is that clearer than Africa. African conflict creates millions of refugees in search of a better life. African poverty deprives this continent - and millions of people - of the chance to succeed, and deprives us of successful and stable partners for economic growth and the benign exploitation of commodities and natural resources."

--Tony Blair

31 May 2007