As the 2024 US presidential election nears, the prospect of Donald Trump returning to the White House has sparked a range of reactions across Africa. While some welcome his potential reelection, others fear it could lead to stricter immigration policies and diminished cooperation with the continent.
According to Deutsche Welle, in Ghana’s capital, Accra, opinions are divided. Student Abigail Grift favors incumbent President Joe Biden, citing Trump’s impeachment trials and recent defamation conviction as concerns. However, Samuel Ofoso believes Trump’s vision could benefit Africa, pointing to his past support for infrastructure projects and political relations during his tenure.
Etse Sikanku, a senior lecturer at the University of Media, Arts and Communication, warns that Africa should be concerned about a potential Trump presidency. He argues that Trump’s “America First” ideology could lead to isolationism and a retreat from international cooperation, which could be detrimental to Africa.
Priyal Singh, an analyst from the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria, echoes this sentiment, suggesting that a Trump victory could weaken the global multilateral system, which many African countries rely on.
However, political analyst Daniel Silke believes that regardless of the election outcome, the US will continue to pursue its geostrategic interests in Africa, driven by factors such as the growing influence of China and Russia, as well as the desire to secure access to resources and expand technological reach.
Silke points to initiatives like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which grants tariff-free access to US markets for eligible African countries, as evidence of the US’s enduring economic ties with the continent.
From a security perspective, Silke argues that the US remains a crucial partner in the fight against insurgencies in West and East Africa.
Charles Martin-Shields, a senior researcher at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability, expects a potential Trump administration to focus primarily on domestic issues, such as immigration at the Mexican border, while neglecting global challenges like climate change – a stance that could disproportionately impact African nations.
As the election approaches, Africa finds itself navigating the potential consequences of a Trump or Biden presidency, weighing the implications for trade, security, and global cooperation.
