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UK Cuts Bilateral Aid to Nine African Nations by Over 80 Percent, Redirects Funds to Defence and Multilateral Channels
The British government will reduce overseas development spending from 0.5 percent to 0.3 percent of gross national income, slashing direct assistance to Africa from £1.6 billion to under £700 million by 2029. Kenya, Malawi and Mozambique face reductions of 90 percent or more. The government cited the need to fund higher defence outlays.
Jul 17, 5:03 AM·1m read5 sources
Lifeline at riskDomestic shift
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The UK government confirmed on 17 July 2026 that it will cut bilateral aid to nine African countries by more than 80 percent by 2029. Overseas development spending will fall from 0.5 percent to 0.3 percent of gross national income, reducing bilateral aid to Africa from £1.6 billion to less than £700 million. Kenya will lose 93 percent of its funding.
Malawi and Mozambique will each lose 90 percent. Tanzania and Zambia are also among the countries facing the steepest reductions. Aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is dealing with a major Ebola outbreak, will drop 29 percent.
Overall UK aid to Africa is projected to decline 56 percent, and support for the world's least-developed countries will be nearly halved. The government stated the reductions are required to finance increased defence spending. It said remaining development assistance will shift toward targeted partnerships and multilateral institutions.
Development organisations criticised the decision. They said the cuts will reverse progress in health, education and humanitarian programmes and will leave communities more exposed to conflict, hunger and climate disasters. Researchers noted that several of the affected countries contain millions of people living in extreme poverty.
