What Trump’s Presidency Could Cost Africa
Some say the end is nigh. Others say the gates of grace have been opened for a new beginning. Donald Trump has left an indelible mark on the face of global politics that will be felt throughout the ages. Africa, with many of its economies still in their infancy, has a lot to fear and a lot to gain.
Growing Concerns
Africa’s trade relations with the US under the new presidency are of great concern to many of the African States. Stakeholders in Africa’s economies believe that Trump’s rhetoric speaks volumes about his respect for the US-Africa relations.
Established with the purpose of incentivising the development of free markets and exports from Africa, the African Growth Opportunity Act (ALGOA) has added significant value to nations like Ghana and South Africa as they continue in their efforts to export value added agricultural and industrial items.
The value of ALGOA to each African state, however, may not be proportional to the benefits that the US stands to reap from their agreements. The livelihoods of local farmers and thousands of jobs in South Africa were under threat as the nation was given a deadline to import poultry from the US.
ALGOA, Power Africa, YALI, and the anti-terrorism support which the US has worked on with Africa are some of the initiatives which may be strongly influenced by Donald Trump.
The US Investing In Africa
Thus far, $7bn has been contributed by the US to the Power Africa initiative to ensure that 60m connections of cleaner power generation become available across the African continent. Entrepreneurs across Africa have benefitted greatly from various projects stemming from the initiative such as the Off-Grid Energy Challenge which promises to afford budding visionaries with 20 new $100,000 grants.
Nigerian entrepreneurs stand to gain even greater rewards for their involvement in the Power Africa initiative as Edo state, Nigeria received an awe-inspiring financial support comprised of $220m in equity and $530m in debt from local and international financiers for a 450MW greenfield plant.
$7bnis the US’s contribution
to the Power Africa initiative
to the Power Africa initiative
Nigeria has also benefited from the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI), which engaged 100 Nigerians out of 150 Africans in the Nigeria Cohort of 2016.
Thus far, YALI has served as a key tool in empowering over 2000 young African leaders in their pursuits of a more prosperous Africa driven by peaceful, democratic governance.
Anti-terrorism relations between Africa and the US may play a pivotal role in ensuring that the majority of the initiatives they collaborate on are executed with minimal disruptions. The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) is one of the ways in which the US has attempted to reduce disruptions to its initiatives within the region. In a sense, its skin is in the game as it donated $5m to Nigeria’s resistance against the Boko Haram insurgency.
Who Will Make Africa Great
Much uncertainty clouds the continent. This is expected, but this may not necessarily be justified. While there may be cause for concern about lost winds emanating from the US, there should be great excitement about what is at the core of the African continent.
A vast land, blessed with resources and many relationships, albeit, poorly managed, Africa must look within. The zero-sum game that its economies have come to expect from colonialists and stronger Western economies may serve as a contributing factor to its desire to move forward with even greater courage that, as Trump may “Make America great again,” Africa will make Africa great again.
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