Democrats’ win won’t mean a major US-Africa shift
Democrats may use their new congressional power to scrutinize Trump's Africa policies, but there is little sign they have a compelling alternative.
The recent sweeping Democratic victory in the US midterm elections has not signaled a major shift in US-Africa relations, according to experts. Democratic victories do not necessarily translate into policy changes, said John "JT" Tomaszewski, senior director for Africa at the National Endowment for Democracy. African nations will continue to struggle to secure a place on the agenda due to competing domestic priorities for lawmakers, following President Donald Trump's electoral setback.
Democrats may use hearings and investigations to scrutinize the dismantling of USAID and the human costs of cuts to foreign assistance, potentially embarrassing the White House. However, veteran Democrats believe that the theater of hearings may not result in meaningful changes to US-Africa policy. While some Democrats understand the challenge, they do not expect a more assertive Democratic agenda.
Traditional development assistance is no longer a priority for many, according to a former US ambassador under Joe Biden. African governments are currently focused on immediate concerns, such as visa bans and restrictions affecting more than half of sub-Saharan African countries, which raises questions about US intentions to promote "commercial diplomacy."
Despite potential new attitudes in Washington, African governments will evaluate the impact of US actions rather than Democratic rhetoric on improving relations. Notably, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa sees the US midterm elections as a shift in the geopolitical landscape that could lead to a reset in strained ties between Pretoria and Washington.
Written by urgent.news from Semafor's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
