In a controversial move, US diplomats have been instructed to “unabashedly and aggressively” remind African governments about the “generosity” of the American people, despite significant cuts to foreign aid in the region. This directive, outlined in a leaked email obtained by The Update Desk, has sparked outrage among former officials and diplomats who have criticised the approach as “offensive” and “racist”.
The email, sent by Nick Checker, the newly appointed head of the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, emphasises the need to “counter the false narrative that the United States isn’t in many cases the largest donor” and to “leverage that assistance to advance our interests”. However, critics argue that this approach fails to acknowledge the real-world consequences of aid reductions, particularly in areas like HIV/AIDS treatment and famine relief.
“He’s talking about communities where the US withdrew life-saving drugs that kept people alive. Yet, he’s concerned about messaging to those surviving that America is generous?” said Kristofer Harrison, a former senior official at the US State Department.
The directive comes amid a broader shift in US foreign policy towards Africa, as outlined in the Trump administration’s recent national security strategy. The strategy emphasises a move away from an “aid-focused relationship” to a more “trade- and investment-focused relationship”, prioritising partnerships with “capable, reliable partners committed to opening their markets to US goods and services”.
Checker’s email elaborates on this strategy, stating that in Africa, “the stakes are often limited, indirect and largely negative (risk management)”. It describes the continent as a “peripheral – rather than a core – theater for US interests that demand strategic economy”.
This stance has been condemned by former officials, who argue that it is “against US national security interests” and that Checker is “wildly out of touch with reality”. They point to the crucial role that US humanitarian aid has played in alleviating suffering across Africa, and warn that the abrupt reduction or cessation of such aid is creating unease.
Separately, the Guardian has obtained an invitation from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for private companies to bid on a contract to close down the agency. This move, which has been described as “absolutely illegal” by a former State Department official, suggests that the administration is pushing ahead with the dismantling of USAID despite concerns over its legality and the potential consequences for global development and humanitarian efforts.
As the debate over the future of US engagement in Africa continues, the actions and directives of the State Department’s new leadership have raised significant questions about the priorities and values that will guide American foreign policy in the region in the years to come.
