The victory, hailed by a host of African and world leaders, is historic, as Trump becomes only the second president to make a comeback to the White House, following Grover Cleveland’s return 132 years ago.

He served as the 45th President of the United States from 2016 to 2020, when Democrat Joe Biden ascended to the presidency in a disputed election that saw Trump supporters attack the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021.

The agitated Republican supporters sought to keep Trump in power by preventing a joint session of Congress from counting the Electoral College votes to certify Biden’s victory.

With his return to power, dozens of African heads of state have congratulated him, with some hoping for a diplomatic reset with America and others aiming for reciprocal economic and development partnerships between Africa and the United States.

Trump has consistently promoted the America First policy, which many world leaders view as a reflection of a desire to limit U.S. interference abroad.

As Trump prepares to assume office for a second non-consecutive term, we highlight some of his initiatives in Africa that shaped his first term.

Prosper Africa

The Trump administration launched the Prosper Africa initiative in 2018 with the aim of increasing two-way trade and investment between the United States and African countries.

The program sought to encourage private sector engagement in Africa, fostering economic opportunities by simplifying access for American businesses to African markets.

This partnership has created thousands of jobs and opened new markets for both regions.

Additionally, Prosper Africa has played a vital role in strengthening U.S.-Africa trade under frameworks such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Trade Relations

Trump’s administration was keen on renegotiating and strengthening bilateral trade agreements with partner states such as Kenya under a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which was later discontinued by the Biden administration in favor of the US-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP).

Notably, unlike the Trump-era FTA, STIP does not capture tariff barriers for American firms doing business in Kenya.

Pundits say Trump’s agreement with Kenya was part of a broader strategy to encourage African countries to engage more with the U.S. on a trade basis rather than through traditional aid frameworks.

Support for Counterterrorism Efforts

During Trump’s first term, U.S. support for counterterrorism efforts in Africa was a critical aspect of his foreign policy, with a focus on combating extremist groups that posed threats to regional stability and global security. The U.S. military maintained a significant presence in countries affected by terrorism, particularly in East and West Africa.

In East Africa, the primary focus was on Somalia, where the extremist group Al-Shabaab, an affiliate of Al-Qaeda, continued to wreak havoc. The U.S. supported the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali forces through training, intelligence sharing, and direct military assistance. The Trump administration authorized airstrikes against Al-Shabaab targets to disrupt their operations and degrade their capabilities. For example, in 2017, the U.S. launched a series of strikes that targeted Al-Shabaab leaders and training camps, severely disrupting their operations.

In West Africa, U.S. efforts centered on groups like ISIS-affiliated organizations and Boko Haram, a terrorist group active in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region. The U.S. military supported the governments of Nigeria, Niger, and Chad by providing training and equipment to local forces fighting ISIS and Boko Haram. In 2018, the U.S. approved the sale of military equipment to Niger to bolster its counterterrorism capabilities. This partnership aimed to enhance the operational effectiveness of local armies in the fight against groups that had pledged allegiance to ISIS in the Sahel and beyond.
Diminished Aid with Focus on Self-Reliance

During his presidency, Trump proposed significant cuts to U.S. foreign aid, signaling a shift toward a more self-reliant approach in dealing with Africa and other regions. This shift was central to his "America First" policy, which aimed at reducing the U.S.’s financial commitments abroad and encouraging African nations to take greater responsibility for their own economic growth and stability.

One of the most notable examples of this shift was the administration’s proposal to reduce funding for U.S. development aid programs, such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In the 2020 budget, Trump sought to cut foreign aid by about 21%, including cuts to various programs aimed at addressing poverty, health, and education across the African continent.

While this approach was welcomed by some African leaders who viewed it as a step toward economic independence, critics argued that it risked undermining important development programs that help address immediate needs such as health crises and poverty alleviation.

Health and Development Programs

While his administration initially sought to cut funding for programs like the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), public pressure led to the continuation of support for critical health initiatives. PEPFAR funding was preserved and continued to play a vital role in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment across Africa.

China Counter-Strategy

Trump’s approach to Africa was also shaped by a broader geopolitical strategy to counter China’s growing influence on the continent. U.S. officials voiced concerns about what they termed as Chinese debt-trap diplomacy and emphasized American investments as alternatives to Chinese loans.

This strategy has contributed to the continued tensions between China and the United States to date as each seeks dominance in the region.

Overall, while Trump’s initiatives were welcomed by some leaders in Africa, they were viewed by his critics as transactional, with a stronger emphasis on economic and security interests.

As he prepares to assume his new mandate, it remains to be seen how these previous policies will shape America’s policies in Africa. But there is a growing concern about his hard stance on immigration and threats to deport persons with no permission to reside in the United States.

This is particularly concerning considering that in 2022, around 13,000 African migrants were recorded at the US-Mexico border, according to US Customs and Border Protection data. By 2023, this figure had quadrupled to 58,000. Some migrants are seeking refuge abroad due to challenges related to war and poverty.

Donald Trump secured a resounding victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in what was initially considered a neck-and-neck U.S. presidential election, just hours after the polls closed on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.