Washington's ties with Africa took a dramatic turn after Donald Trump became the US President, with policymakers shifting their focus towards economic interests and security concerns.
A year into his presidency, it appears that the Trump administration has made significant changes to its approach towards the African continent. Gone are the days of diplomatic niceties and grandiose promises; instead, Washington is now focusing on pragmatic solutions to secure vital trade routes, boost energy production, and counter growing influence from China and other global powers.
US officials acknowledge that they have become more "realistic" in their assessment of Africa's potential as a major economic powerhouse. Gone are the days of hand-wringing about human rights abuses or humanitarian crises; now, Washington is looking to exploit the continent's vast natural resources, promote American business interests, and bolster security through military cooperation.
But this new approach has also led to criticism that Washington is prioritizing short-term gains over long-term development. Many African nations feel betrayed by America's sudden focus on economic interests, as they perceive it as a betrayal of past commitments to address pressing social issues like poverty, inequality, and lack of access to basic services.
In the wake of Trump's presidency, there are also indications that Washington may be rethinking its approach towards Africa under Joe Biden. While details remain scarce, officials suggest that the new administration will focus on strengthening partnerships with key African nations and fostering greater collaboration between Washington and regional organizations like the African Union.
Meanwhile, other developments across the continent continue to dominate headlines, including Ghana's crackdown on West Africans accused of cyber crimes, and a hero's welcome for the newly crowned Africa Cup of Nations champions in Senegal.
A year into his presidency, it appears that the Trump administration has made significant changes to its approach towards the African continent. Gone are the days of diplomatic niceties and grandiose promises; instead, Washington is now focusing on pragmatic solutions to secure vital trade routes, boost energy production, and counter growing influence from China and other global powers.
US officials acknowledge that they have become more "realistic" in their assessment of Africa's potential as a major economic powerhouse. Gone are the days of hand-wringing about human rights abuses or humanitarian crises; now, Washington is looking to exploit the continent's vast natural resources, promote American business interests, and bolster security through military cooperation.
But this new approach has also led to criticism that Washington is prioritizing short-term gains over long-term development. Many African nations feel betrayed by America's sudden focus on economic interests, as they perceive it as a betrayal of past commitments to address pressing social issues like poverty, inequality, and lack of access to basic services.
In the wake of Trump's presidency, there are also indications that Washington may be rethinking its approach towards Africa under Joe Biden. While details remain scarce, officials suggest that the new administration will focus on strengthening partnerships with key African nations and fostering greater collaboration between Washington and regional organizations like the African Union.
Meanwhile, other developments across the continent continue to dominate headlines, including Ghana's crackdown on West Africans accused of cyber crimes, and a hero's welcome for the newly crowned Africa Cup of Nations champions in Senegal.
- they went from being all like "we're gonna save africa" to basically just wanting to exploit their resources 
. it's crazy how quickly policy can shift like that.
and btw what's up with joe biden already rethinking the approach? seems like they're trying to be all diplomatic again 
.
i feel like there's more to the continent than just these hot topics 
. we need more stories about the amazing work being done in communities and organizations across africa 
. Its like they think African nations are just gonna be some cash cow for the US without giving anything back. Meanwhile, back home people are still struggling with poverty and inequality...its not right. And now Biden is coming in and supposedly changing things up? Fingers crossed it's a step in the right direction 
. But at the same time, I can see why African countries might feel like they're being played if they thought Trump was all about making promises he couldn't keep 
.
️. By the way, have you ever tried pour-over? It's like a whole different world.