Trump Has Only Spoken To One African Leader Out Of His 56calls
US president Donald Trump has had many conversations with world leaders since January 20th.
Both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have spoken to 56 foreign leaders. But of all the presidents, prime ministers, and royals whose calls they took, none represent the countries of Africa.
He’s met with the President of Japan. He’s spoken to Vladimir Putin. He’s received calls from the leaders of China, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia.
Trump also on Saturday called German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, Australian Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and he previously spoke to Mexican and Canadian leaders.
There have been at least twenty more phone calls within the week from various leaders around the world yet the largest continent has still gone unrepresented.
The only African leader they’ve spoken with thus far is president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt. Sisi, a military general who came to power in 2014, was reportedly the first leader from the Arab world to congratulate the US president-elect on his Nov. 8 victory.
The absence of dialogue with other African leaders isn’t surprising given that Trump barely mentioned Africa during his entire campaign and during his inauguration speech.
He has criticized US aid programs to the continent, describing a $7 billion aid program to help African countries gain better access to electricity, as a “waste.” He’s also said that he sees “tremendous potential” in Africa.
For the past eight years Africa has been relegated to the back burner of US foreign policy. President Obama, whose father hailed from Kenya, elicited high expectations when he came to office and was seen, initially, as a potential champion for African causes. Yet, aside from his struggling “Power Africa,” a $7-billion presidential initiative launched in 2013 and aimed at doubling Africa’s electrical grid by 2030, Obama has little to show for when it comes to Africa.
According to University of Johannesburg professor Peter Vale, Trump’s foreign policy on Africa “is likely to be non-existent.”
Because Trump favors protectionism, the argument goes, he will turn his back on Africa and will happily don Obama’s mantle to continue Washington’s minimalist involvement in African affairs.
With the US economic presence in Africa receding, China has occupied the void and driven competition out, including many European companies and investors. The Chinese are building infrastructures at a dizzying pace, from Abuja to Cape-town, in exchange for Africa’s rich mineral resources.
Some Economists say Trump might try to outbid China in Africa. (Source: persecondsnews)
