British PM Boris Johnson meets 16 African leaders at investment summit

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets 16 African leaders at an investment summit today. It will see Britain cast out a net for trading partners in its new life outside the EU.

The first UK-Africa Investment Summit in London comes less than two weeks before Britain formally ends its decades-long involvement in the European integration project. It also follows a tour of sub-Saharan Africa former prime minister Theresa May made in 2018. That was the first by a UK leader in five years.

The 16 leaders from 21 attending African countries



include presidents Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt and Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Ghanaian leader Nana Akufo-Addo will also attend.

Johnson will tell the African leaders and big company executives that he wants to make Britain their "investment partner of choice," Downing Street said.

He is also expected to announce an end to Britain's support for thermal coal mining and coal power plants overseas. Britain will formally leave the European Union on January 31.