In Africa there are profound concerns that the war in Iraq will strain relations between countries that have joined the ‘coalition of the willing’ and those that have not. In particular there are concerns that this, along with the costs of war and reconstruction, may reduce aid and investment commitments from the G8 countries, hindering the implementation of Nepad and development generally on the continent. The Southern African Regional Poverty Network (SARPN) and the Open Society Foundation (South Africa) recently hosted a discussion forum in Pretoria where Baroness Valerie Amos, the United Kingdom Minister for Africa, responded to some of these concerns. The meeting was attended by representatives of a number of G8 countries, of the SADC and of government, civil society and academia in South Africa and other SADC countries.