What Donald Trump’s presidency means for Africa

Slashing development aid

The US is the world's biggest bilateral aid donor. Last year Washington spent $31bn on overseas development assistance, with much of those funds going to Africa. In an interview with the Washington Post, Trump said his presidency will focus on internal programmes rather than overseas aid.

“We have no money for education because we can’t build in our own country,” he said. “And at what point do you say hey, we have to take care of ourselves. So, you know, I know the outer world exists and I’ll be very cognizant of that but at the same time, our country is disintegrating, large sections of it, especially in the inner cities."

Trump has, however, spoken out in support of the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which was former President George W. Bush's main Africa-focused initiative during his presidency between 2000 and 2008.

Extremist recruitment

Trump's calls for a temporary ban on muslim immigrants into the US was heavily criticised as xenophobic and divisive.

Somali terror group Al Shabaab has cells in the US, most notably in Minnesota where there is a large Somali population.

On Monday, Trump spoke out against the Somali community during a visit to Minnesota.

"You’ve seen first-hand the problems caused with faulty refugee vetting, with very large numbers of Somali refugees coming into your state without your knowledge, without your support or approval,” he told a cheering crowd.

“Some of them [are] joining Isis and spreading their extremist views all over our country and all over the world." These comments are likely to make more young men feel marginalised, driving them into the arms of terror organisations.

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