What Does Trump’s Trim of USAID Mean for Africa?
On 7 February 2025 at midnight, the Executive Order of Trump to cut down to size the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) comes into effect with thousands of employees placed on ‘administrative leave.’ Not mincing his words, Trump contends that #USAID was basically ‘a scam’ run by ‘lunatic radicals’, dilapidating public funds.
Already, Trump initiated a suspension of all #USAID programs pending a 90-day review. It is believed the initiative to revamp USAID emanates from the Department of Government Efficiency (DoGE) headed by none other than the big boss of Tesla and SpaceX Elon Musk, who was a huge financial backer of Trump for the presidential elections.
American employees of USAID at overseas office have been ordered to return illico presto to the US. On 8 February 2025, federal judge Carl Nichols issued a stay of execution to pause the process. The respite will allow USAID to coordinate and fund the repatriation of workers and their families.
In the meantime, US State Secretary Marco Rubio has appointed an acting administrator for USAID. Eventually, USAID will be placed under the US Department of State, as opposed to being an independent department which tended to act according to its own whims and fancies. It is expected that the workforce count will be slashed from 10,000 to a mere 300, with a dozen only focusing on Africa.
“The US government will continue to provide foreign aid, but it is going to be foreign aid that makes sense and is aligned with our national interest.”
US State Secretary Marco Rubio
Key programs under USAID such as #ProsperAfrica or #PowerAfrica are in the balance. Several heath programs to fight HIV, malaria, and other diseases prevalent in Africa, including the flagship #PEPFAR, now hang in the balance. The move will certainly undercut the ‘Pivot Back to Africa’ initiated by the Biden administration and diminish the ‘soft power’ of the USA.
USAID is one of the largest aid organizations in the world and it managed USD 50 billion in international aid in 2024. Nearly USD 10 billion went to Africa, representing 20% of the total. Certain African countries are highly dependent on USAID. Notably, for Somalia and South Sudan, USAID‘s financing accounted for 8% and 6% of the #GDP, respectively.
| COUNTRY | USAID USD B |
|---|---|
| Egypt | 1.50 |
| Ethiopia | 1.46 |
| Somalia | 1.18 |
| Nigeria | 1.00 |
| DR Congo | 0.99 |
(Source: ForeignAssistance.gov)
Critics point out that the move will leave a vacuum that other incumbent or emerging powers would only be happy to fill. Undoubtedly, it presents an opportunity for other powers aspiring to extend their influence on the emerging continent.
Faced with economic woes domestically, it might be challenging for China to fully fill in the multi-billion dollar aid void. However, China has been painting the USA as an ‘inconsistent and unreliable partner’ with unpredictable and upsetting policy shifts.
During a recent conference in Mombasa, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta sounded the clarion call for Africa to stand on its own feet. Africa must now use its resources in the ‘right way’, instead of relying on foreign handouts.