As the election of Kemi Badenoch as the leader of Britain’s Conservative Party sparks excitement across Africa, questions linger about the true implications of her leadership for Africans and Black communities globally. Some Africans, particularly among the educated elite, see her achievement as a victory for representation and diversity. But is there more to Badenoch’s rise than meets the eye?

Reflecting on similar sentiments when Barack Obama became the United States’ first Black president, Africans celebrated his ascent, hoping it would yield tangible benefits for the Black diaspora and the African continent. However, Obama’s legacy left many disappointed, especially as his administration advanced drone operations in Africa, with major military investments in Niger and other regions under the umbrella of AFRICOM. For many, his presidency, though historic, served to maintain Western interests more than advance African ones. The election of Kemi Badenoch raises similar concerns for Africans hoping her Yoruba heritage might bring their struggles to the forefront.

Badenoch has openly stated, “I’m not interested in being an identity politics figure. I’m here to represent everyone.” Her words underscore a perspective that distances her from the specific issues facing Black people, both in Britain and abroad. Yet her rise is still celebrated by many in Africa, an enthusiasm that, some argue, reflects a tendency to prioritize racial identity over political action.

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The Conservative Party Badenoch represents is one with a history intertwined with British colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade, which reshaped African societies for generations. Wealth amassed through centuries of exploitation, slave trade, and colonial violence continues to benefit Britain’s elite and powerful institutions. Today, while Jewish Holocaust survivors receive reparations, Britain has consistently rejected similar calls from African nations, demonstrating a selective approach to historical justice.

Indeed, Badenoch’s stance on race issues, including her dismissal of Britain’s systemic racism, reveals a commitment to the Conservative agenda rather than to the struggles of African communities. For example, the Windrush scandal, which saw Caribbean citizens wrongly detained, deported, and denied legal rights, highlighted the Conservative Party’s ambivalence toward Black immigrants and people of color. Even as she rises within the party, Badenoch’s policy history suggests a reinforcement of existing policies rather than a shift toward greater inclusivity or justice for African and Black communities.

Her party’s approach to immigration and race bears the legacy of figures like Enoch Powell, who famously warned of “rivers of blood” if Britain continued to welcome immigrants from the Commonwealth. Badenoch’s leadership, therefore, raises questions about the actual impact her position will have on minority communities within Britain.

Beyond the celebration of her heritage, Africans must ask: what is Badenoch’s commitment to advancing issues affecting African nations? Her affiliation with a party that supports restrictive immigration policies and downplays the impact of colonialism leaves many unconvinced of her alignment with African interests. The Conservative Party has long advocated for policies that favor British interests globally, including economic measures that keep African nations tethered to Western-dominated financial institutions like the World Bank.

For African nations still grappling with the lasting effects of colonialism, Badenoch’s stance on racial equality might feel at odds with the lived realities of Africans today. W.E.B. Du Bois’ observation, “A system cannot fail those it was never meant to protect,” resonates deeply here. Many African countries are still burdened by debt from colonial powers, compounded by policies that prioritize Western economic interests over African self-determination.

While Badenoch’s rise represents a historic moment for diversity in British politics, her commitment to Black and African communities remains in question. Her identity may reflect Africa’s rich cultural diversity, but her political stance appears aligned with a legacy that has often overlooked or actively suppressed African interests. For real progress, Black communities worldwide need leaders who actively work to dismantle systems of inequality and prioritize the needs of marginalized communities, not simply those who share their skin color.