Dear President Trump: let me share some home truths about Africa with you
Donald Trump’s comments on migration, foreigners, Muslims and race have compounded concern about his stance on the continent, writes Gilbert M Khadiagala
Africa has occupied a more or less constantly insignificant position in both Republican and Democratic administrations in the US since the 1960s. Studies of US-Africa policies have tended to depict Republican administrations as "globalist" — more likely to look at Africa as part of a bigger picture than as its own unique geopolitical space. Democrats, meanwhile, are perceived "Africanists" who have close sympathies to African interests. But these distinctions are deceptive. Some Republican administrations, such as that of George W Bush, paid more attention to African issues such as HIV/AIDS than, for instance, Bill Clinton’s Democratic administration did. There were great expectations that Africa would feature prominently during Barack Obama’s presidency. Instead, his administration built on some of the initiatives of the previous Republican governments rather than breaking new or distinctive ground in Africa. Donald Trump is the new man in charge of the US, and Africa seems to have...
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