At a time when President Trump proclaimed an ‘America First’ foreign policy, it became increasingly clear that African leadership needs to embark on a journey of strategic metamorphosis. This was not just about weathering a temporary tempest. It was, indeed, a clarion call urging leaders across Africa to reconstruct and galvanize economic frameworks, delve deeper into regional coalitions, and broaden their partnership horizons beyond traditional Western patrons.
In his address before a joint session of the United States Congress, Trump didn’t mince words. He asserted, We have been ripped off for decades by nearly every country on earth, and we will not let that happen any longer.
His words underscored a perception that the United States’ global foothold was slipping, attributed primarily to inept leadership that allowed the nation to be exploited. But in this era of Trump’s Politik, what about Africa’s role? What lessons should the continent learn?
Viewing through the lens of international relations, Trump’s policies seem to breathe life into a stark realist worldview. A world where power plays, not collaborative efforts, steer the helm of global narratives. Africa, too, must navigate this reality with strategic foresight, much like a masterful game of chess where each move counts more than ever before. Trump’s tenure also accentuated a stark truth: the dependent narrative that North-South aid frameworks entangle us with, often bolstering exploitative liaisons.
If any African leader was still contemplating, the 2025 aid freeze should have jolted them awake. With 26% of the continent’s Overseas Development Assistance vanishing, worth a staggering $15.5 billion overnight, what other wake-up call is necessary? Isn’t it time that Africa re-evaluates its alliance dynamics and solidifies intra-continental trade, enhances regional security collaborations, and nurtures independently-driven policy crafting?
Considering Sub-Saharan Africa, the Trump administration’s January 2025 executive order suspending foreign aid cast a long shadow over USAID’s nearly $12 billion annual engagements. Historically, during Trump’s first tenure, the continent witnessed abrupt funding reductions, shifts in military engagement, and a drift away from established diplomatic dialogues – a portent perhaps of what lay ahead if his foreign policy persists into a second term.
Data modeling from the Institute for Security Studies painted a grim picture — projecting an additional 5.7 million Africans tumbling into the chasm of extreme poverty due to these cuts. A poignant illustration of Trump’s transactional diplomacy, where development goals play second fiddle to the supposedly paramount U.S. strategic interests.
The integration of USAID into the State Department blurred the lines between humanitarian outreach and diplomatic maneuvers, a move echoing realist scholar John Mearsheimer’s views that, great powers always act in ways that maximize their relative power advantage.
With the U.S. possibly retrenching, will the lure of Beijing’s diplomatic overtures inevitably draw Africa into China’s economic spindle? While this shift may offer pragmatic short-term solutions, what are the long-term stakes regarding debt leverage and political alignment?
There’s also Turkey, with its offer of cooperation and partnership providing an intriguing alternative to the ever-receding Western influence. Africa stands at a crossroad. As Trump’s foreign policy unmasked the vulnerabilities in Africa’s external dependencies, it simultaneously unlocked an unparalleled potential to redefine the continent’s role in a restructured global order.
Here lies a moment rife with possibilities. By exploiting great power competition, fostering continental unity, and prioritizing domestic efficiency, African states might transform this disruptive period into a launchpad for substantial reform. The world is shifting, and Africa’s aspirations must be as bold, rooted not in nostalgic yearning for bygone liberal internationalism nor subdued acquiescence to sheer realpolitik, but firmly anchored in African agency within an evolving multipolar coalition.
The aftermath of USAID’s withdrawal is not only a crisis to manage but a foundation to construct anew — a bastion for a self-reliant and resilient Africa. Can Africa recognize this pivotal moment, or will it succumb to passive participation as the ebb and flow of international dealings unfold? The choice, with its immense potential for poignant transformation, lies with Africa. There is no more opportune moment. The question is: Will the continent rise to the occasion, or does it linger on the periphery, content to be carried by the tides?
