By Morgen Makombo Sikwila
The abrupt cessation of U.S.A foreign aid under recent administrative policies will significantly impact Africa.
Nations such as Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan, which have heavily relied on external assistance, now face potential upheavals across critical sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, education, and governance.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has implemented a significant policy shift by halting all funding obligations and sub-obligations under Development Objective Agreements (DOAGs). Initiated by an Executive Order to reevaluate and realign U.S. foreign aid, this policy took effect on January 24, 2025. The sudden pause has disrupted numerous foreign assistance programmes administered by USAID, compelling partner nations to grapple with the immediate and long-term effects of this pause, which might result in total withdrawal for some projects.
The discontinuation of U.S. aid threatens to dismantle healthcare initiatives across the region. Programmes like the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Tuberculosis and malaria control are in danger. The potential rollback in healthcare advancements poses a public health emergency and a moral dilemma, as millions may lose access to essential life-saving medicines. More than six million people could die from HIV and AIDS in the next fours years if US President Donald Trump’ s administration pulls its global funding in toto.
Although a waiver was placed on HIV/AIDS programmes in the last month’s US foreign aid funding freeze, many concerns remains over the future of treatment programmes. There is a lot of confusion, especially on the community levels. There is a lot of disruptions of health delivery services. While most most health professionals and some clients welcome the waiver, the situation remains chaotic. There is a likelihood of a 400 percent increase in AIDS related deaths if PEPFAR financial support is not reauthorised between now and 2030. Any cent, any cut, any pause matters for people living with HIV. Community clinics are facing biggest interruptions as they have been entirely dependent on US government funding. Some people may not come forward for treatments, which could in turn increase infections.
Agriculture and food security has been jeopardized. The impact is doubly severe in countries heavily reliant on agriculture, such as Zimbabwe, Burundi and South Sudan. Some initiatives have been bolstering smallholder farmers, enhancing food security and agricultural productivity. Without this support, the threat of increased food scarcity and famine looms large, potentially destabilizing already vulnerable economies. Some countries have benefitted significantly from US aid, enhancing agricultural resilience. Withdrawing of aid might tighten fiscal policies and reduce government spending, negatively affecting efforts to alleviate poverty and improve food security. This could push countries towards seeking alternative funding sources and adopting stricter fiscal discipline.
Governance and stability are now at risk. The withdrawal of aid casts a long shadow over the governance landscape. In South Sudan and Burundi, U.S. contributions have been pivotal in peacebuilding and democratic reforms. The funding cut could halt progress towards democratization and peace, risking a resurgence of conflict and governance crises.
Education and future generations are now in quandary. The education sector’s advancements in literacy and school enrollments are at risk of being undone. Significant progress in education has been made in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, fueled by U.S. financial support. The potential disruption of these programmes threatens to curtail opportunities for youth and the girl child, thereby impacting their future, empowerment, employability and economic independence.
US aid has been integral to Rwanda’s recovery and development post-genocide; the gacaca peace initiative, supporting key sectors like healthcare and infrastructure. Despite criticisms of potentially bolstering a semi-authoritarian regime, withdrawing aid could disrupt Rwanda’s development trajectory. This might encourage a shift towards more sustainable and autonomous economic policies.
Heavily reliant on international aid, countries could face deepened economic crises if US aid is totally withdrawn. This might derail progress in health, education, and governance, and exacerbate instability. Such challenges could prompt shifts towards economic diversification and improved fiscal management to lessen the impacts of reduced foreign aid.
African countries are already facing severe humanitarian crises and the withdrawal of US aid could be catastrophic; worsening food insecurity, increasing displacements, and hampering peace efforts. While aid dependency and corruption are concerns, the focus should be on optimizing aid effectiveness and fostering sustainable development initiatives.
U.S. aid to Africa encompasses a variety of programmes and initiatives. Humanitarian and Civic Assistance are some of the activities which have been conducted in conjunction with authorized military operations and exercises, with the approval of the partner nations. Common projects include constructing health clinics and schools and providing humanitarian supplies. These efforts aim to reduce the risk of and respond to humanitarian disasters. Under the banner of USAID,
military can play a key role in pandemic response by working with other organizations to maintain security, provide logistical support for essential commodities, maintain communications, and provide augmented medical care. Under the
Humanitarian Mine Action, human suffering caused by landmines and other explosive remnants of war has been relieved. The US Department of Defense has been supporting foreign governments in detecting, clearing, and managing these hazards and provide
development assistance. Beyond humanitarian aid, the U.S. also has been providing development assistance to support economic growth, democracy and governance, education, and environmental conservation in Africa. These programmes are implemented through agencies like USAID and the Department of State, working in partnership with African governments and civil society organizations. U.S. aid to Africa has evolved over time, influenced by geopolitical factors, domestic priorities, and evolving development approaches. Over the past two decades, Africa has received a growing share of annual U.S. foreign assistance funding. This trend was particularly pronounced during the 2000s with increased funding for HIV/AIDS programmes through PEPFAR.
Beyond global health initiatives, the U.S. is the leading donor of humanitarian aid to sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the area of emergency food aid.
While health assistance remains a significant portion of U.S. aid to Africa, other sectors have also received considerable support. These include agriculture and economic growth, democracy and governance, and security assistance. The U.S. government has also increasingly emphasized multi-country initiatives focused on specific development challenges in Africa, such as Feed the Future for agricultural development and Power Africa for energy access.
Well, this organisation, (USAID) whish has succeeded in masquerading for the past sixty-one years as an angelic agency on a righteous worldwide missions and crusades to offer aid and development assistance has done more harm than good. USAID was founded by John F. Kennedy at the height of the Cold War. In essence, owing to its reach and influence, it became a camouflage that provided convenient cover for covert agents to carry out malign activities against its enemies and also lauder their image as humanitarian workers on a messianic mission to save the world. It is important to consider the historical context of U.S. involvement in Africa. During the Cold War, both the U.S. and the USSR exploited the challenges created by colonial borders in Africa, often supporting different sides in regional conflicts and exacerbating tensions.
USAID is just collateral damage. Elton Musk has openly admitted that USAID funnelled money into blatant propaganda, regime change schemes, useless LGBTQ+ activism, and even fuelling wars. This isn’t speculation- it’s a fact.The US through some Non -Governmental Organizations and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) has channeled big amounts of money with a political purpose into the political life of certain countries.
The furore around USAID insofar as it convinces most people that Zimbabwe’s so-called human rights activists, opposition political parties and some media houses are nothing more than proxies of the US, through USAID. How many so-called NGOs have you seen operating with suspicious deep pockets, pushing foreign agendas, and systematically undermining national sovereignty in African countries? NGOs have been bankrolled by USAID under the guise of development aid while serving as mere tools for imperialist manipulation. The alarm was long sounded that USAID was nothing more than a front for criminal operations designed to destabilise nations worldwide. It’s now time up for African leaders to develop their countries with own resources and think less about extension of term limits. Aid will never develop Africa. Africa will be developed by stable politics.
Morgen Makombo Sikwila
Masters in Peace and Governance
BSC Counselling
Diploma in Environmental Health
Certificate in Marketing Management
Phone: 0772823282 email: morgensikwilam@gmail.com
