Theresa May announced that Britain’s first post-Brexit trade agreement would be with African nations as she committed the UK to providing an extra £4 billion of investment in the continent’s economies.

On the first day of her three-day African tour, the prime minister said the government intended to carry over the EU’s economic partnership agreement with Mozambique and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), which consists of South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and the tiny kingdoms of Namibia and Swaziland.

Speaking in Cape Town, Mrs May revealed how the UK plans to use its aid budget in the “national interest”. Britain will encourage private firms to invest on the continent and help offer security and jobs to stabilise African economies.

She said an additional £4