🎬A fertile Sahara

POLITICS
What can Africa expect from a Trump presidency?

Yesterday, it became official. Former President Donald Trump is on his way to dropping the ‘former’ and regaining his way to the White House. Despite an obvious lack of direct involvement, his announcement as the winner was received with mixed emotions by many Africans who assume (and rightfully so) that there must be some measure of consequence of his presidency to Africa.

Here’s what that would look like:

Less of China

Trump’s four years in office were characterized by a dismissive attitude towards Africans, particularly his reference to “s-hole countries” — but he was the first to raise awareness about the huge threat China poses to US interests in Africa. “You will again see aggressive countering of Chinese influence in Africa,” Tibor Nagy, a former assistant secretary of State for African Affairs under Trump with US infrastructure investments potentially matching China’s.

No cultural agenda

Trump and conservatives have been openly critical of what they have called a “preachy” approach by President Joe Biden, and his vice president Harris, in championing so-called “cultural issues,” such as support for LGBTQ issues, rather than focusing on trade and business.

The Sahel Region

Following the expulsion of US troops from Mali two months ago, President Trump will look to restore pragmatism and a diplomatic approach to negotiations with the Sahel countries: Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali, all of whom have had military coups between 2021 and 2023 according to Josh Mersevey, a fellow at Hudson Institute.

He also argued that Biden’s approach had enabled US adversaries like Russia and China to wield significant influence in the region.

Also,

• Trump’s tenure is expected to continue funding the Lobito corridor, which connects mineral mines in DR Congo to the Lobito port in Angola. From there, it’s anyone’s guess where they’re off to.

• Somaliland will expect recognition from Washington as many Republicans acknowledge the small country over its war-torn counterpart, Somalia. - EA.

TRENDING
The Sahara is getting green again

Trees in the Sahara? Well yeah. known as one of the driest places on Earth, the Sahara Desert is witnessing an extraordinary transformation following an extratropical cyclone that drenched parts of Northwestern Africa on Sept. 7th and 8th. Satellite images from NASA have since revealed surprising patches of greenery in characteristically barren spots. Experts say it may be a bit too early to send in the farmers.

SHOWER THOUGHTS

NEWS
Round the continent

• Olympic boxing gold medallist Imane Khelif has filed a legal complaint against French news outlets claiming she has XY chromosomes.

• South Africa has closed its main border with Mozambique, citing fears over worsening electoral protests in the country.

• The ZiG, Zimbabwe’s sixth currency in fifteen years is making an unexpected rally against the US Dollar.

• All the African leaders who congratulated Trump after his victory - here