International security and development cooperation have undergone significant changes in recent years, leading to new perceptions and reconsideration of principles, values and approaches.
Traditional concepts, orders and configurations and balances of power are being challenged and questioned. Partners in both the North and South are facing important challenges in redefining their future relations.
In West Africa- Sahel region, political transitions have been triggered by elections, as in Senegal, or by military coups in Mali, Guinea-Conakry, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Gabon. Chad is a particular case.
Regardless of how these transitions were triggered, they share common elements: A drive to strengthen national or continental identity and sovereignty, and support by the citizens who disappointed with the performance of the modern post-colonial states and their institutions.
The process of alienation between traditional partners in the Northern and Southern hemispheres seems to be due to a lack of competencies and capacities of the European and North American partners to deal with changes of paradigms in Africa. This could be accelerated and further strained by recent decisions of the new Trump administration.
The most publicly notable actions of President Donald Trump are the closure of USAid, the executive order to withdraw the US from UN Human Rights Council and the WHO, which has caused widespread astonishment and incomprehension.
These decisions, regardless of their financial, economic, and developmental extent, lack political foresight. They have already significantly impacted development cooperation, including European partners and Canada, due to the interlinked and complementary nature of their actions in Africa.
The sudden budget reduction for economic and development cooperation will quickly reduce the influence of the Western political alliance.
African states and societies will intensify efforts to diversify their cooperation, though it is not certain whether increased engagement of middle powers like Russia, China, or Iran offer a real or more profitable alternative to the traditional partners, some of whom still bear the historical burden of colonialism.
The USA’s new position on international cooperation presents Europe with the challenge of redefining and reorienting its policy on international relations and development. There is an urgent need for action communication.
Mutual respect and understanding will be essential conditions for the success of these efforts. The space which the Trump administration will leave behind with its “America First” policy can open new perspectives and opportunities for Africa and others, if the leaders and representatives of the continent seize and capitalize on them.
This shift offers Africa more opportunities to engage with its citizens and represent their interests in a context of fairness, dignity and welfare.
Taking advantage of the situation means that African leaders need to be ready to rise to the situation. They must respond immediately with effective strategies to fill in the gaps created by Trump’s stop to aid and several other decisions.
With the many executive orders and surprises coming from the US administration, African governments need to respond with a resilient strategy that is not easily swayed by uncertainties and arbitrary policies and protect Africa’s interests from easy manipulation.
The challenge in situations like this is often the lack of unity and pursuit of common positions among African leaders. With some African leaders already showing stronger interest in aligning with US interest, and the divisions in West Africa due to transitions challenges, a unified African agenda continues to be weakened. Africa also need to show strong support for alternative alliances such as BRICS to further limit the influence of the US and limit the impact of Trump’s arbitrary policies and decisions.
Abdisaid M. Ali is Chairperson of Lomé Peace and Security Forum in Togo and former Foreign Affairs minister of Somalia
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