Biden & Africa: Status Quo or New Dawn?
Tags: Donald Trump Vs Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Foreign Policy, Us Africa Relations

President Donald Trump and a few leaders from Africa. (Reuters)

What’s the Chop?

Now that US President Donald Trump will be shown the door come January 2021, all eyes are on President-Elect Joe Biden, in anticipation of what the next four years might mean for Africa.

Why is American politics so important for Africa?

The fact is, America is the global world leader — much of what they do impacts most countries across the world. America’s influence on Africa in particular covers everything from social to economic to political to even cultural affairs. America also helps to keep African leaders in check (although, they sometimes look the other way when the leader in question is an ally), and they have the power to intervene in matters related to security and counterterrorism.

How did Africa fare with Trump?

The whole world is generally in agreement that Trump was one of the more unorthodox, unfiltered leaders that America has had. For Africa, the perception wasn’t that different, and no prizes for guessing why — Trump openly regarded Africa as a continent with “shit-hole countries”. Yet, the Trump administration didn’t really shake the table across US-Africa relations beyond imposing stricter immigration laws against specific African countries; cutting funding for family planning and reproductive health programmes and increasing the number of US bases on the continent, supposedly in a fight against terrorism.

And though he has sometimes seemed directly antagonistic — his administration often interfered with decision-making and leadership at international organisations like AfDB and WTO, and on issues on the continent — he didn’t undo the constructive programs and policies that had been put in place by his predecessors. People also say that Trump’s whole Africa strategy was basically one big chess game against China. America has been eyeing China’s influence everywhere, including Africa, and they just wanted to win. Spoiler: China called checkmate.

What can we expect from Biden?

This isn’t Joe Biden’s first turn about the White House, so his track record is semi-visible; he was Vice-President to President Barack Obama, from 2008 to 2016. During their run, they set up policies like: “Trade not aid’’- an economic policy approach which led to the creation of several initiatives like the US-Africa Business Forum, Power Africa, and the Feed the Future Initiative, aimed at ‌increasing the economy of Africa. So, there’s hope that Biden would follow this trend.

Biden’s first task will be the US COVID-19 response — for starters, the U.S has not joined COVAX — the global effort to make the COVID-19 vaccine available to the poorest countries. With Trump gone, the US may halt her withdrawal from the WHO and Biden may be open to resuming US Santa Claus duties for Africa (God, please). Biden is also likely to be more liberal on immigration — he pledged to rescind Trump’s ban on 7 African countries. He has also promised to stop America’s “forever wars” which would mean withdrawing American troops but continuing to support counter-terrorism efforts with funds.

How has Africa responded to Biden’s win?

Hope is definitely alive at home. The South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, spoke of the two countries deepening the bonds of friendship and cooperation. Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated Biden on his election at a time of uncertainty and fear in world affairs. On the other hand, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni gave a muted congratulations to the President-Elect; Museveni is an ardent supporter of Trump and has been reported to have said, “America has got one of the best Presidents ever … I love Trump because he tells Africa frankly”.

Your Takeaway.

Despite his Trumpian inclinations, Museveni wasn’t too far off: “It’s high time Africans realise they need to solve their own problems.” The fact is, our outward focus stunts our growth and development. While Africa can hope for improved immigration terms, WHO aid, impactful climate policies, and a bunch of potentially positively-impactful policies under Biden, remember that he is first and foremost an American president and his main goal is to secure the bag for the US and its multinationals. The onus is on us to address the question of how we might begin to prioritise and serve ourselves without relying so greatly on our perpetual American Messiah.