The Dried-Up Well: Will African leaders learn from Trump leadership as USAID’s faucet closes?

By Akansasira Junior Victor

For decades, Africa has been a continent with its hands outstretched, receiving billions in aid, particularly from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, USAID became a financial pillar for health, governance, and development projects across Africa.

By 2023, its annual budget had swelled to approximately $50 billion, with Africa as a significant beneficiary. However, under Donald Trump’s “America First” doctrine, USAID funds began dwindling, forcing African nations to confront the reality of their reliance on foreign aid.

The Trump administration justified USAID reductions by claiming that the funds often fueled corruption and inefficiency rather than genuine development. Institutions like the Cato Institute supported this view, arguing that aid perpetuated a cycle of dependency. Trump’s policymakers labelled some organizations handling USAID funds as “cartels,” suggesting that aid money often failed to reach the intended beneficiaries.

The Dambisa Moyo Perspective: Aid as a Poisoned Chalice

Zambian economist Dambisa Moyo, in her groundbreaking book Dead Aid, argued that Africa’s dependence on foreign aid had done more harm than good. “Aid has not only failed to promote development, but it has also been one of the greatest obstacles to Africa’s growth,” she wrote. Since the 1960s, Africa has received over $1 trillion in aid, yet many of its economies remain fragile.

Take a look at Ethiopia, once a major recipient of USAID, is a stark example of how aid dependency can backfire. The Trump-era funding cuts left the country struggling with healthcare and food security programs that relied heavily on USAID support. This exposed the vulnerability of African economies that failed to build internal resilience.

Ugandan President HE. Gen Yoweri Museveni has long cautioned against dependency when he has “A beggar’s independence is always shaky.” He has consistently urged African nations to develop self-sustaining economies rather than waiting for foreign handouts. His speeches on Africa’s Independence emphasize the need for industrialization, trade, and self-reliance.

Interestingly though ironical, this red-letter moment should not be seen as a crisis but as a wake-up call for Africa’s renaissance as in the early 90s when the great Pan Africanists like Kwame Nkrumah “We must unite now or perish.” Are the African nations surely ready to shift their focus from external donors to internal economic cooperation through initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), EAC Markets, ECOWAS business initiatives and Market as they need more rejuvenating?

It is said, “When the music changes, so does the dance” Africa must adjust its strategies. Instead of lamenting aid cuts, governments should prioritize intra-African trade, investment in technology, and industrialization to drive sustainable growth.

“With USAID funds drying up, Africa must stop treating foreign aid as a financial oxygen tank.” Like NRM government has foreseen it, under the visionary leadership of HE. GEN Yoweri Kaguta Museveni through the establishment of wealth Creation Programs like PDM, the 4-Acre Model, Operation Wealth Creation campaign, Emyooga, and Sustainable Presidential Skilling Initiative to revolutionarise industrialisation, Leaders should invest in local industries, support small businesses, and reform economic policies to ensure self-sufficiency.

Trump’s policy shift must force Africa to reconsider its financial model. Rather than depending on handouts, African leaders must turn towards handshakes building stronger intra-African partnerships and reducing reliance on external donors.

To conclude, The USAID freeze is not an end but an opportunity. As the African proverb states, “Rain does not fall on one roof alone.” This challenge affects the entire continent and must be met with unity, resilience, and a renewed vision of economic independence. Africa’s future is not in Washington’s budget but in its own hands.

The writer is a Communication Enthusiast, Patriot and Pan Africanist (vj.akansasira@gmail.com)