British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson refers to Africa as ‘that country’ (VIDEO)

During a speech at the Conservative Party conference, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson mistakenly called Africa a “country” instead of a continent.

Johnson made the remarks on Sunday in what was his first speech as Foreign Secretary to the party.

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Johnson, whose job it is to cultivate relations with other countries, was discussing how life expectancy in countries across Africa had risen in recent years, which he said was largely down to UK foreign aid, when he made the slip up.

"Life expectancy in Africa has risen astonishingly as that country has entered the global economic system," Johnson said.

Johnson’s mistake didn’t go unnoticed with many taking to social media to question his education in light of the gaffe.

This isn’t the first time for Johnson to cause some controversy while discussing Africa, having previously written that Africa was “a mess” and would be better off as a colony.

"The best fate for Africa would be if the old colonial powers, or their citizens, scrambled once again in her direction; on the understanding that this time they will not be asked to feel guilty," Johnson wrote.

He also wrote in 2002 that many of the people in African countries are like "flag-waving piccaninnies" whenever the Queen visits.

It wasn’t just his geographical error that raised an eyebrow on Sunday though, with his reference to London as a “great jiving funkapolitan melting pot” also leaving people a little mystified.