Theresa May has announced plans to boost the UK investment in Africa after leaving the European Union. The declaration of intention took place during her first trip to the continent as prime minister.

In a speech in Cape Town, May pledged four billion pounds in support for African economies, especially aiming on fighting unemployment among young people.

May also pledged a “fundamental shift” in aid spending to focus on long-term economic and security challenges rather than short-term poverty reduction.

The prime minister will also visit Nigeria and Kenya during the three-day travel though the continent.

On her way to South Africa, the prime minister dismissed warnings from the chancellor about possible economic damage of no-deal scenario could would cause.

Talking to journalists on board RAF Voyager on Tuesday, 28 August, May reiterated that she believed a no-deal Brexit was still better than a bad deal – adding no-deal “wouldn’t be the end of the world“.

Prime minister’s Common Wealth trip foreseeing meetings the presidents of all three countries – aims to deepen economic and trade ties with growing African economies ahead of Britain leaving the EU end of March 2019.