Politics
Trump Revamps US-Africa Relationship
Trump Revamps US-Africa Relationship
The United States has unveiled a new approach to its relations with Africa, shifting from aid to trade under a “commercial diplomacy” push.
This move comes as African nations face steep tariffs and sweeping aid cuts imposed by the Trump administration.
According to Troy Fitrell, the top US diplomat for Africa, ambassadors will now be judged on their ability to support local businesses and facilitate deals rather than manage aid projects.
The US hosted a surprise mini-summit with five strategically located but economically smaller African nations, signaling a shift from aid-based diplomacy to a transactional, resource- and security-driven approach.
This move reflects Washington’s intent to counter growing Chinese and Russian influence in West and Central Africa, secure critical minerals for clean energy, and address security concerns.
During a meeting with leaders from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal at the White House, Trump said there was “great economic potential in Africa” and that the US is working to “forge new economic opportunities involving both the United States and many African nations.”
He emphasized that the shift from aid to trade will be “far more effective and sustainable and beneficial than anything else that we could be doing together”.
The US Development Finance Corporation’s announcement of funding support for Gabon’s Banio Potash Mine exemplifies this strategy.
The Angolan Conference struck a positive note with $2.5 billion worth of US-Africa business commitments, focusing on energy, infrastructure, and trade.
However, African leaders were deeply concerned about the drastic cut in US development aid, ambiguity on climate policy, and migration.
Critics argue that Trump’s “trade over aid” narrative masks a deeper agenda: access to Africa’s vast mineral wealth.
The Alternative Information and Development Centre, a South African NGO, describes the tariffs as “economic warfare”.
Many African leaders remain wary, citing the negative impact of Trump’s protectionist tariffs on their economies.
South Africa’s Automotive Business Council reports an 80% plunge in vehicle exports to the US since a 30% duty was imposed, warning that the move “strikes at the heart of South Africa’s industrialization agenda,” threatening over 100,000 jobs across agriculture and manufacturing.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the flagship US trade program that allows duty-free access for nearly 2,000 goods from 32 African countries, expires in September with no clear commitment from Washington on renewal.
Fitrell emphasized that African governments must step up lobbying efforts, suggesting that future deals may require “much greater attention toward some form of reciprocity” in line with Trump’s focus on prioritizing US economic interests.
Meanwhile, China is capitalizing on the gap, having announced plans to grant zero-tariff access to exports from 53 African nations.
However, some African nations might be cautious about strengthening ties with China, fearing retaliation from the US. Brendon Verster, an economist at Oxford Economics Africa, warned that aligning with China “could possibly bring about more economic punishment from the US”.
Malema Convicted for Gun Offence, Faces 15-Year Jail Term
South Africa’s firebrand opposition politician, Julius Malema, on Monday suffered a major political blow as a regional court convicted him of unlawful possession of a firearm, firing it in public, and reckless endangerment — offences that carry a minimum sentence of 15 years.
Magistrate Twanet Olivier, after a three-day ruling, found the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader guilty over a 2018 incident where he was caught on video firing live rounds from a semi-automatic rifle into the air during his party’s anniversary rally in Eastern Cape.
The court, however, acquitted his former bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman, who was charged alongside him.
Malema, known for his fiery rhetoric against South Africa’s white minority, was accused of firing between 14 and 15 live rounds before a crowd of 20,000 supporters.
He claimed the gun was not his, insisting he pulled the trigger only to excite the crowd — a defence the court dismissed.
The conviction adds to Malema’s mounting legal troubles, coming just weeks after a hate speech ruling against him for remarks deemed to incite violence against white farmers.
Unfazed by the judgment, Malema told cheering supporters outside the East London regional court: “Going to prison or death is a badge of honour. Whatever they want to do, they must know we will never retreat.”
He vowed to appeal the case up to the Constitutional Court.
The case, filed by Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum, has further polarised South Africa, with critics describing Malema’s conduct as reckless while supporters see him as a revolutionary voice of the oppressed.
Legal experts warn he could face time behind bars if he fails to persuade the court to impose a lesser sentence when hearing resumes in January 2026.
If upheld, the conviction could also cost Malema his seat in parliament, as South Africa’s constitution bars lawmakers sentenced to more than 12 months without an option of fine from holding office.
DR Congo Court Sentences Ex-President Kabila to Death
A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has sentenced former President Joseph Kabila to death in absentia after finding him guilty of war crimes, crimes against humanity and treason.
Kabila, who ruled Africa’s second-largest country for 18 years, was convicted on Friday on charges that included murder, torture, sexual assault, and allegedly supporting the M23 rebel group whose activities have devastated DR Congo’s eastern region.
The 54-year-old former leader denied all allegations but did not appear in court to defend himself. His whereabouts remain unknown.
The court further ordered Kabila to pay a fine of $33 billion, a judgment that has sparked sharp political and diplomatic reactions.
Reacting to the ruling, Kabila dismissed the case as “arbitrary” and described the proceedings as an “instrument of oppression.”
His ally and former minister, Kikaya Bin Karubi, told the BBC that the entire trial was “theatrical” and accused President Félix Tshisekedi of using the judiciary as a weapon against political opponents.
“This judgment is nothing but a show trial. No evidence was presented linking Kabila to the M23,” Karubi said.
The M23 rebel leader, Bertrand Bisimwa, also criticised the ruling, describing it as a violation of ongoing peace talks with the government.
Kabila, who took office in 2001 after the assassination of his father, Laurent Kabila, went into self-imposed exile in 2023 following a fallout with President Tshisekedi, despite backing him in the disputed 2019 elections.
In April this year, he resurfaced, declaring his willingness to help resolve the eastern conflict, and was later seen in the rebel-held city of Goma.
Tshisekedi has since accused his predecessor of masterminding the M23’s resurgence, and the Congolese Senate stripped Kabila of his immunity earlier this year, paving the way for his prosecution.
The crisis in DR Congo has worsened since the M23 captured swathes of territory in the east, including Goma, Bukavu, and key airports.
The United Nations and several Western powers have accused neighbouring Rwanda of backing the rebels, deploying thousands of troops into Congolese territory.
Kigali, however, has consistently denied the allegations, insisting its actions were meant to prevent the violence from spilling across its border.
Although a ceasefire agreement was reached in July, hostilities have persisted, with civilians bearing the brunt of the bloodshed.
Again, US Govt Shuts Down!
For the first time in six years, the United States government has ground to a halt after lawmakers in Washington failed to agree on a funding bill before the midnight deadline.
The shutdown, which took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, is already taking its toll, with about 750,000 federal workers facing furloughs and thousands of others ordered to work without pay.
President Donald Trump, who is under pressure from both Republicans and Democrats, warned of “irreversible” staffing cuts if the standoff drags on.
Major labour unions have since dragged the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management to court, describing the threats of mass layoffs as unlawful.
The Senate had attempted to push through rival spending bills on Tuesday night, but both collapsed.
Republicans stripped out provisions on healthcare programmes, including Medicaid and subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, while Democrats refused to back down, insisting the measures were non-negotiable.
The collapse of the bills left Washington staring at yet another shutdown, a familiar political crisis that analysts say could stretch for weeks.
Already, critical agencies are being hit.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that more than 11,000 workers have been sent home, while 13,000 air traffic controllers will remain on duty without pay to keep flights operational.
The White House insists that essential services, including defence and some healthcare operations, will continue.
But the ripple effects are expected to spread across government offices, airports, financial markets, and ordinary households.
The shutdown has also rattled Wall Street, with investor confidence taking a hit amid fears of prolonged instability.
Trump, who rode into power promising to “drain the swamp,” is now locked in a bruising battle with Congress. With both sides refusing to blink, the political showdown has once again left the world’s largest economy at the mercy of partisan gridlock.
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