Diaspora Watch 48th Edition: A Closer Look at Global Issues and African Developments

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In this edition of Diaspora Watch, we shed light on several pressing issues affecting the African continent and its diaspora community.

The Ghana Embassy in the US has been embroiled in controversy over a visa scam, leading to its temporary closure. Meanwhile, the M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo have faced accusations of war crimes, sparking concerns about regional stability.

On a more positive note, we highlight some of the top African beauty brands that are making waves globally. Namibia’s President has appointed special advisors to oversee upstream projects, signaling a commitment to economic growth.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Kenya have renewed diplomatic ties with the appointment of a new ambassador, paving the way for enhanced cooperation between the two regions.

In other news, the Africa-Caribbean Trade Forum is set to take place in Grenada, providing a platform for economic collaboration and development. Tanzania has introduced a new requirement for barcode registration on local goods, aiming to boost trade and commerce.

Beyond Africa, we examine the implications of a recent bill passed by the US House of Representatives and its potential impact on global affairs.

We also take a moment to celebrate the remarkable journey of Dr. Kimma Wreh, a scholar who has weathered the storms of civil war and cyber warfare, emerging as a beacon of resilience and expertise.

Finally, we celebrate the achievements of Nigerian athlete Tobi Amusan, who shattered records and won the 100m hurdles at the Diamond League.

This edition of Diaspora Watch offers a diverse range of stories and insights, showcasing the complexities and triumphs of our global community.

The United States House of Representatives narrowly passed a sweeping Republican tax and spending package on Thursday, marking a significant legislative victory for President Donald Trump.

Dubbed his “one big, beautiful bill,” the legislation now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to undergo notable revisions.

The bill is both ambitious and controversial, containing measures that target several key sectors, including healthcare, taxation, immigration, education, and social welfare.

A centerpiece of the bill is the permanent extension of the individual income tax cuts originally introduced in the GOP’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

However, these cuts come at a steep price.

According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the proposed tax changes would add approximately $3.8 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. Meanwhile, the legislation proposes deep spending cuts to vital safety net programs.

Medicaid funding would be slashed by nearly $700 billion, a number expected to rise once recent updates to the bill are assessed. Similarly, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (commonly known as food stamps) would lose $267 billion in federal support.

The bill includes measures that align with longstanding Republican policy goals and campaign promises made by President Trump.

These include significant investments in border security, enhanced systems to curb immigration, and the development of a massive new missile defense shield.

It also proposes a comprehensive overhaul of the air traffic control system, new fees targeting electric vehicle users, and a shift away from federal student loans.

To offset the cost of the tax breaks and increased defense and immigration-related spending, the House GOP aimed for at least $1.5 trillion in spending reductions.

However, Senate Republicans are likely to revise the bill, potentially softening some of the more aggressive cuts.

Because the legislation is advancing through budget reconciliation, it requires only a simple majority in the Senate, bypassing the need for Democratic support.

Among the most contentious provisions is the introduction of work requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries.

For the first time in the program’s six-decade history, non-exempt adults between the ages of 19 and 64 would need to work at least 80 hours per month or engage in approved activities like schooling or community service to retain coverage.

The implementation date has been moved up to the end of 2026, raising concerns that more people could lose coverage sooner.

Exceptions would apply to groups such as parents, pregnant women, medically frail individuals, and those with substance abuse disorders.

The legislation also mandates more frequent eligibility checks for Medicaid expansion recipients and requires certain low-income adults to contribute financially to their care.

It includes penalties for states that use their own funds to cover undocumented immigrants, reducing their federal Medicaid matching funds by 10%.

States would face new limitations on the taxes they can levy on healthcare providers, a revenue stream used to enhance provider reimbursements and health services.

A notable incentive was added for the ten states that have not expanded Medicaid. These states would be allowed to send larger supplemental payments to healthcare providers, potentially deterring them from expanding coverage.

Additionally, the bill delays a Biden administration rule intended to streamline Medicaid enrollment until 2035, which could make it harder for individuals to obtain or renew coverage.

Another controversial aspect of the bill involves changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

It proposes codifying a Trump-era initiative that would shorten the ACA’s open enrollment period and eliminate year-round sign-up options for low-income individuals.

In a last-minute amendment, GOP lawmakers reinstated funding for cost-sharing reduction subsidies, which Trump had previously eliminated.

While this might lower out-of-pocket costs, it could reduce the generosity of premium subsidies, prompting some to drop their coverage.

According to early CBO estimates, these healthcare-related changes could lead to 8.6 million more people being uninsured by 2034—a figure expected to increase as the final provisions are analyzed.

The legislation also enhances the child tax credit, increasing it from $2,000 to $2,500 per child from 2025 through 2028.

However, eligibility is restricted to parents with Social Security numbers, eliminating access for those who file taxes using individual taxpayer identification numbers—typically undocumented immigrants—thereby affecting around two million children.

In a symbolic nod to Trump’s branding, the bill creates “Trump accounts,” officially named “money accounts for growth and advancement” (MAGA accounts).

These accounts would be established for U.S. citizen children born between 2025 and 2028, with an initial federal contribution of $1,000. Families could contribute up to $5,000 annually.

The funds, inaccessible until the child turns 18, could be used for higher education or first-time home purchases and would be taxed at capital gains rates. The account would expire when the beneficiary turns 31.

Fulfilling a major campaign pledge, the bill exempts income from tips and overtime from federal taxation for qualifying workers.

This applies specifically to traditionally tipped occupations and to hourly workers, excluding those earning more than $160,000 annually.

These tax breaks would be in effect from 2025 through 2028 and would also be available to non-itemizing taxpayers.

Senior citizens are not left out, as the bill increases their standard deduction by $4,000 from 2025 through 2028. However, this benefit phases out for individuals with incomes above $75,000 and couples earning more than $150,000.

This measure is positioned as an indirect fulfillment of Trump’s promise to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits, which cannot be addressed under budget reconciliation rules.

The package introduces a temporary car loan interest deduction, allowing taxpayers to deduct up to $10,000 annually for interest on vehicles purchased after 2025, provided the cars are assembled in the U.S.

This benefit phases out for individuals earning more than $100,000 and couples earning above $200,000.

Other tax reliefs include a temporary boost to the standard deduction and permanent changes that favor wealthier Americans.

The estate tax exemption would be permanently set at $15 million per individual, adjusted for inflation.

The bill also enhances a deduction for owners of pass-through entities, such as partnerships and sole proprietorships, increasing it from 20% to 23%.

The legislation raises the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions to $40,000 for those earning up to $500,000, addressing long-standing concerns from lawmakers in high-tax states.

For single filers earning up to $250,000, the cap would be raised to $15,000. These adjustments would gradually phase back down and remain in effect until 2034.

Businesses also benefit from the bill, with the return of full, first-year deductions for equipment purchases and research and development costs, which had been curtailed in previous years. These provisions would expire after 2029.

Moreover, companies could temporarily write off expenses related to constructing or upgrading certain facilities, although deductions for purchases of professional sports teams would be limited.

Finally, the bill significantly increases taxes on universities and private foundations. The endowment tax rate for some universities would rise from 1.4% to as high as 21%, and private foundation taxes would jump to as much as 10%.

These measures aim to generate revenue but have sparked criticism from institutions that rely on endowment income for operational and scholarship support.

In summary, the House-passed bill is a comprehensive and controversial overhaul of the nation’s tax and spending priorities.

While it offers substantial tax relief and fulfills several of President Trump’s campaign promises, it does so at the expense of key social safety net programs and could result in millions of Americans losing healthcare coverage.

The Senate’s response to this bill will determine its final shape and its impact on the American people.

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Government of Grenada are pleased to announce the fourth edition of the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF2025), scheduled to take place in St. George’s, Grenada, from July 28 to 29, 2025.

The forum’s theme is “Resilience and Transformation: Enhancing Africa-Caribbean Economic Cooperation in an Era of Global Uncertainty.”

The Prime Minister of Grenada, Honourable Dickon Mitchell, described ACTIF as a “clarion call for unity, enterprise, and a reimagined global role for our people.”

He emphasized that the forum brings the shared vision for African-Caribbean unity to life through economic transformation, trade expansion, and investment cooperation.

According to the International Trade Centre (ITC), AfriCaribbean trade could reach $1.8 billion by 2028, driven by public and private partnerships and investment in key sectors such as minerals and metals, processed foods, and transportation.

Connecting opportunity with capital and market information can positively impact the economies of Africa and the CARICOM region.

The ACTIF2025 aims to drive commercial, economic, and cultural ties between Africa and the Caribbean, promote trade and investment potential between the two regions, provide a platform for strategic partnerships, enhanced logistics, and greater access to capital, and foster inclusive growth, job creation, and sustainable development on both sides.

The forum will feature business-to-business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) meetings, policy dialogues, sector-focused panels, investment showcases, exhibitions, business network sessions, and high-level panel discussions.

It will spotlight key sectors such as agribusiness, energy, infrastructure development, logistics, creative industries, tourism, health, manufacturing, and financial services.

Afreximbank President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Professor Benedict Oramah, emphasized the need for Africa and the Caribbean to strengthen economic ties, citing the potential for growth and development.

He noted that despite deep historical and cultural bonds, the regions continue to trade less than 1% of their exports with each other, highlighting the untapped potential.

Stakeholders across public and private sectors, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), multilateral institutions, investors, and entrepreneurs, are invited to register and attend the forum.

The event is expected to welcome about a thousand delegates from across Africa, the Caribbean, and beyond. The 2024 edition of ACTIF was a resounding success, resulting in over 15 deals and Memoranda of Understanding signed valued at over $4 billion.

ACTIF2025 in Grenada will build on this success to achieve greater commercial and economic linkages through deeper AfriCaribbean collaboration and actionable results.