While many Westerners criticized President Donald Trump's decision to pause U.S. foreign aid, many African intellectuals welcomed the new administration's policy. African writers, politicians, activists, and economists view Trump's decision to freeze aid as a silver lining – a chance to break free from aid dependency and reimagine the country's future economic trajectory.
In the 1970s, the British economist Peter Bauer stressed: "Aid is a process by which the poor in the rich countries subsidize the rich in poor countries." Echoing Bauer, in an 1986 analysis that remains relevant, titled "The Continuing Failure Of Foreign Aid," renowned American writer James Bovard added: "Foreign aid has rarely done anything that countries could not have done for themselves. And it has often encouraged the recipient governments' worst tendencies – helping to underwrite programs and policies that have starved thousands of people and derailed struggling economies." He stressed that aid filled the pockets of a growing number of "corrupt, meddling and overpaid" bureaucrats and invested in "white elephants:" "idle cement plants, near‐empty convention centers, abandoned roads." Foreign aid "encouraged Third World governments to rely on handouts instead of on themselves for development. No matter how irresponsible, corrupt, or oppressive a Third World government may be, there is always some Western government or international agency anxious to supply it with a few more million dollars," wrote Bovard.[1]
Renowned Ghanaian economist George Ayittey also stated that the record of foreign aid to Africa over the past decades has been one of dismal failure, adding that aid has become an "industry," with "its own powerful lobbyists who seek a continuation of current programs at increased funding."[2]
Following is an overview of reactions to the U.S. foreign aid pause in the media of the African continent:
Uganda Media Outlet NilePost: "The Aid Freeze Could Act As A Catalyst For Uganda To... Bolster Its Economy... And Attracting Foreign Direct Investment"
On January 27, 2025, the Ugandan media outlet NilePost published an article, titled "Economists Urge Govt to Rethink Dependence on Foreign Aid Following US Aid Freeze," commenting that Trump's decision to freeze aid is viewed by some Ugandan economists as a silver lining – a chance to break free from aid dependency and reimagine the country's future economic trajectory.
Following are excerpts from the article:[3]
"Trump's decision to freeze aid is being viewed as part of a broader foreign policy strategy to better align U.S. aid with national interests...
"Economists are now advising Uganda to use this pause as a crucial opportunity to reassess its dependency on foreign assistance and push for sustainable economic policies...
"Economists argue that while the freeze may be short-term, it presents a unique opportunity for Uganda to take bold steps toward reducing reliance on foreign aid, especially amid ongoing corruption scandals within public institutions.
"Julius Mukunda, executive director of the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group, emphasized the need for a strategic shift in governance. 'It is time for Uganda to stop acting like beggars,' Mukunda said. 'The government must step in and address corruption, reduce unnecessary expenditures, and begin focusing on self-sufficiency.'
"The aid freeze could act as a catalyst for Uganda to explore alternative revenue sources and bolster its economy through increased trade, support for local businesses, and attracting foreign direct investment.
"While the disruption is unsettling, it is viewed by some as a silver lining – a chance to break free from aid dependency and reimagine the country's future economic trajectory."
Ghanaian economist and author George B. N. Ayittey (October 13, 1945-January 28, 2022). (Source: X.com/AfricanLiberty/status/1729859220118638599)
Uganda Media Outlet New Vision: "President Trump Has... Given African Governments An Opportunity To Introspect On Their National Development"
On February 16, 2025, the Ugandan media outlet New Vision published an article titled "Trump's Aid Freeze: Gift To Africa And Lesson On Self-Reliance" stating that Africa may emerge even stronger and more resilient from the Trump administration aid freeze.
Following are excerpts from the article:[4]
"Uganda was earlier on suspended from the AGOA initiative[5] and the economy did not crumble. Key government figures have been sanctioned by the United States for decades but this has never truly affected government efficiency.
"President Trump has in a not-so-subtle way given African governments an opportunity to introspect on their national development and bilateral alliances and if we can use this period productively, Africa may emerge even stronger and more resilient from this aid freeze and the inevitable aid cuts even after the review period."
In 2020, the Tanzanian think tank, Liberty Sparks, translated into the Swahili language by its Chief Editor Elias Mutani, the book "A Primer" by Adam Smith, seen as "The Father of Economics" and "The Father of Capitalism." The think tank also submitted 20 copies to the Head of Ardhi University for Library use. (Source: Liberty Sparks)
In 2020, the Tanzanian think tank, Liberty Sparks, held introductory class on Adam Smith. (Source: Liberty Sparks)
Uganda Media Outlet Monitor: "Foreign Aid Has Been A Double-Edged Sword For African Nations"
On January 29, 2025, the Uganda Edition of the media outlet Monitor published an article, titled "Time To Break Free From Foreign Aid Dependency" stating that Trump's decision to freeze aid is a wake-up call for African governments to embrace visionary leadership and reclaim control over their development agendas.
Following are excerpts of the article:[6]
"The recent suspension of USAID funding to Uganda, amounting to over $350 million annually, has exposed the vulnerabilities of foreign aid dependency. This funding, which supports critical sectors like health, is now on hold due to a U.S. foreign policy shift, leaving Uganda scrambling to sustain essential programs like HIV/AIDS and malaria treatment. However, this challenge presents an opportunity for Uganda to adopt an 'Africa-first' development approach by prioritizing internal resource mobilization and governance reforms.
"The High Costs of Dependency
"Foreign aid has been a double-edged sword for African nations. While it provides critical support, it perpetuates dependency, stifles innovation, and exposes countries to external shocks. Uganda's reliance on foreign aid makes its economy and social programs vulnerable to decisions made abroad. This dependency is unsustainable and undermines the country's economic sovereignty...
"The suspension of USAID funding, though disruptive in the short term, offers Uganda an opportunity to redefine its development strategy. An Africa-first approach emphasizes:
"Self-reliance: Investing in domestic revenue generation and reducing wasteful expenditures.
"Empowered local governance: Strengthening grassroots structures to improve service delivery.
"Innovation and partnerships: Fostering homegrown solutions and encouraging public-private partnerships to address local challenges.
"Uganda stands at a crossroads. The suspension of foreign aid could either deepen the country's vulnerabilities or catalyze meaningful reforms. By embracing internal resource mobilization, tackling corruption, and prioritizing governance reforms, Uganda can build a resilient economy that thrives on self-reliance.
"This moment is a wake-up call for African governments to embrace visionary leadership and reclaim control over their development agendas. The future of Africa must be driven by Africans, for Africans. The era of dependency must give way to a new chapter of sovereignty, accountability, and sustainable growth."
Ghanaian economist and author George B. N. Ayittey (13 October 1945 – 28 January 2022).
Uganda Media Outlet Monitor: Uganda Can Reduce Its Dependence On Aid
January 28, 2025, the Uganda Edition of the media outlet Monitor published an article, titled "US Aid Cuts: Time To Stop Theft Of Money," stating that "the current situation presents an opportunity for the country to re-evaluate its development strategy, focusing on self-reliance and diversification."
Following are excerpts from the article:[7]
"Yet while we are already crying over the prospective effects of aid cuts, it is prudent to bring back the discussion on foreign aid and we ought to do about it – especially the political will.
"Uganda's over-reliance on aid has long been a topic of debate for decades yet we don't do anything to stem it. The current situation presents an opportunity for the country to re-evaluate its development strategy, focusing on self-reliance and diversification. By investing in domestic industries, promoting entrepreneurship, and developing strategic partnerships with other nations, Uganda can reduce its dependence on external aid.
"As Uganda navigates this challenging period, it is essential that leaders engage in introspection and strategic planning. The government must prioritize transparency and accountability while also exploring innovative solutions to drive economic growth and development. By doing so, Uganda can emerge stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to determine its own destiny instead of paying too much attention to how events in far-flung capitals affect us."
Zimbabwe Media Outlet: "A Wake-Up Call: Time For Zimbabwe To Stand On Its Own Feet"
On January 27, 2025, Zimbabwe media outlet News Day published the following article, titled "US Foreign Aid Pause: A Challenge And An Opportunity For Zimbabwe," stating that Trump's decision to pause foreign aid could lead Zimbabwean communities to a future where they no longer depend on outside assistance to survive. Instead, they can thrive through better governance, stronger local economies and a more self-sufficient approach to development.
Following are excerpts from the article:[8]
"While the suspension of foreign aid presents real challenges for Zimbabwe, it also offers an important opportunity for the country to reassess its dependence on external assistance. This moment can serve as a wake-up call for Zimbabwe to begin charting its own path towards self-sufficiency, ensuring that it can support its people without relying on outside help.
"Zimbabwe has vast natural resources, including gold, diamonds and platinum, but for too long, these resources have not been fully harnessed to benefit the local population. The government must prioritize responsible management of these resources to create jobs, improve infrastructure and reduce dependency on foreign aid. Communities like Gokwe Nembudziya, with its rich agricultural potential, should also see the benefits of local resources being invested back into their development...
"One of the main obstacles to achieving self-reliance in Zimbabwe is corruption. For years, public resources – whether from foreign aid or domestic revenue – have been mismanaged or stolen, leaving the country's most vulnerable communities without the support they desperately need. If Zimbabwe is to move away from its reliance on foreign aid, it must address corruption head-on and ensure that resources are allocated where they are needed most.
"By improving transparency, holding leaders accountable and ensuring that public funds are used effectively, Zimbabwe can make better use of its own resources. This will not only strengthen the country's economy but also improve the quality of life for ordinary Zimbabweans...
"To reduce reliance on foreign assistance, Zimbabwe must invest more in critical areas such as health and education... The health sector, for example, must be a priority. While international funding has helped to improve healthcare delivery, it is not a sustainable solution in the long term. Zimbabwe must increase its health budget and focus on building strong, locally-run healthcare systems. This includes investing in health workers, improving healthcare infrastructure and ensuring that essential medicines are available to all, particularly in rural areas.
"Similarly, the education sector must receive more funding. In districts like Gokwe Nembudziya, many children still struggle to access quality education due to poor infrastructure and a lack of resources. Investing in education will help to create a more skilled and productive workforce, enabling Zimbabweans to build a brighter future without depending on foreign donors...
"The US decision to pause foreign aid for 90 days may be a setback for Zimbabwe's most vulnerable communities, but it also provides an important opportunity for the country to rethink its development strategy. For far too long, Zimbabwe has relied on external assistance to meet its basic needs. Now is the time for Zimbabwe to reduce that dependence and take charge of its own future.
"By leveraging on its natural resources, tackling corruption and investing in its own health, education and agriculture, Zimbabwe can build a more resilient and prosperous economy. The country has the potential to thrive without relying on foreign aid, but this will require bold leadership and a commitment to making sure that all resources – both local and external – are used effectively for the benefit of the people.
"For communities like Gokwe Nembudziya, this shift can create a future where they no longer depend on outside assistance to survive. Instead, they can thrive through better governance, stronger local economies and a more self-sufficient approach to development. The road ahead may be challenging, but it is also full of potential. The time to act is now."
Kenyan Senator Olekina: "Together, Let's Build A Brighter Future For Our Country; Thank You @realDonaldTrump"
On January 28, 2025, Ledama Olekina, a renowned Kenyan politician who serves as the senator for Narok County, tweeted on X: "We don't need aid in Kenya; we can do it on our own! Relying on aid from the West limits our opportunities to be industrious and creative. From now on, we must learn to live within our means, eliminate corruption, and instill a spirit of patriotism in our citizens. Together, let's build a brighter future for our country. Thank you @realDonaldTrump and @USAID it's time!"[9]
Kenyan Senator Ledama Olekina (Source: K24.digital)
Nigerian Expert Inyang: Wake Up Africa, Foreign Aid Is Not A Development Strategy
On February 7, 2025, the Nigerian media outlet Bellanaija published an article by Nigerian expert Mfonobong Inyang, titled "Wake Up Africa, Foreign Aid Is Not A Development Strategy." In the article, Inyang stated that foreign aid is meant to be "a temporary relief," and "not an official policy of any country that seeks to assert its sovereignty."
Following are excerpts from the article:[10]
Mfonobong Inyang (Source: Bellanaija)
"My position on how foreign aid has increasingly become a tool of social engineering and neo-colonialism in Africa is well-documented; I am not trying to be a Monday-morning quarterback... Our leaders junket the world not to secure foreign direct investments or negotiate favorable trade terms but to beg for aid. In the world we live in, there is no free lunch, if any organization is giving us aid on one hand, it is using the other hand to advance socio-cultural, economic and political agendas...
"Show me one country that was developed with foreign aid, I will wait. Foreign aid is meant to be a temporary relief and intervention, not an official policy of any country that seeks to assert its sovereignty. Foreign aid is a leverage, a subsidy and an assistance–it was never designed to be the core of national receivables. There is a reason why developed countries hardly receive aid from others even when they actually need it; there's something they know that we don't.
"No country's state department in the world loses sleep or wakes up in the morning thinking about how to make your country or continent better. Every country plots the advancement of its national and strategic interests, why shouldn't we pursue ours?...
"We should be demanding that our governments have increased funding for critical sectors such as education, healthcare, electricity and other public infrastructure. When next we see waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayers' monies, that's our cue for some righteous anger – not at how others choose to spend their own resources..."
African Liberty Organisation for Development ALOD is a Nigeria-based think tank. (Source: Facebook.com/Alodpolicy)
Nigerian Media Outlet Independent: Nigeria "Must Abandon The Ganusi Mindset, Stop Waiting For Handouts, And Begin To Chart An Independent Economic Future"
On February 9, 2025, the Nigerian media outlet Independent published an article, titled "Ganusi Economics: The Global South's Addiction To Foreign Aid And The Trump Shockwave," stating that Nigeria abandoned the Ganusi mentality. In Nigeria, the term "Ganusi" morphed into a symbol of anticipation – of waiting, often greedily, for a morsel to drop from the master's table.
Following are excerpts from the article:[11]
"For decades, many nations in the Global South, including Nigeria, have strutted on the world stage with an air of sovereignty while keeping a begging bowl firmly clutched under their robes. They demand respect as independent states but remain tethered to the lifeline of foreign aid and grants, unable – or perhaps unwilling – to cut the umbilical cord of dependency. Now, with the return of Donald Trump to the White House and his swift moves to slash U.S. foreign aid, these nations may finally be forced to do what they should have done long ago – stand on their own feet.
"In Nigeria, the term Ganusi has taken on a life of its own. Originally a Yoruba phrase meaning to keep one's mouth ajar, it has morphed into a symbol of anticipation – of waiting, often greedily, for a morsel to drop from the master's table. The imagery is disturbingly fitting when describing Nigeria's decades-long reliance on foreign assistance.
"For years, Nigeria has received billions in foreign aid, covering everything from health to education, infrastructure to governance reforms. In 2022 alone, the country received approximately $4.44 billion in net official development assistance and official aid. A significant portion of this funding – $410 million – came from the United States, primarily directed towards health and population programs.
"The irony, of course, is that this is a country that prides itself on being Africa's largest economy, endowed with vast natural and human resources. Yet, despite its oil wealth and an entrepreneurial population, it has consistently stretched its hands out for grants and concessional loans, behaving less like a self-sufficient nation and more like a perpetual recipient of goodwill.
"But now, the political winds in Washington are shifting, and Nigeria, along with other aid-dependent nations, might soon find itself caught in the storm...
"If history is any guide, the Global South will respond as it always does – by issuing diplomatic protests, appealing to "shared interests," and hoping that the next U.S. administration reverses course. But perhaps, just this once, Nigeria should see this as an opportunity rather than a crisis.
"It is high time Nigeria abandoned the Ganusi mentality. No truly sovereign nation should peg its survival to the whims of foreign donors, especially those whose generosity is dictated by shifting political ideologies. More crucially, foreign aid has often come with strings attached, influencing policies in ways that do not always align with national interests.
"Take the case of economic diversification. For years, experts have warned that Nigeria's overreliance on oil revenue is unsustainable. Yet, successive governments have failed to drive industrialization, develop the agricultural sector, or invest adequately in technology and manufacturing. Why? Because aid and grants have provided an easy escape, cushioning the country from the real pain of its economic mismanagement.
"With Trump's foreign aid freeze and the potential collapse of USAID programs, there is now no better time for Nigeria to recalibrate its economic priorities. This means aggressively expanding domestic revenue generation, enforcing tax reforms, cutting wasteful government spending, and investing in sectors that can drive real growth.
"More importantly, Nigeria must recognize that its greatest asset is not foreign aid but its own people. The country boasts a youthful, innovative population that has demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity. From the booming fintech sector to the rise of Nollywood, Nigerians have shown an ability to create wealth despite the government's shortcomings. Imagine what could be achieved if policies were designed to empower this entrepreneurial spirit rather than sustain a culture of dependency.
"Nigeria and other Global South nations must wake up to the reality that the era of easy aid is drawing to a close. Western nations are increasingly prioritizing domestic interests, and with leaders like Trump in power, the message is clear: charity is no longer a given.
"The real test of sovereignty is self-reliance. If Nigeria is to claim its rightful place as a true leader in Africa, it must abandon the Ganusi mindset, stop waiting for handouts, and begin to chart an independent economic future. Because in the end, a nation that perpetually lives off the goodwill of others can never truly call itself free."
*Anna Mahjar-Barducci is a Senior Research Fellow at MEMRI.
[1] See MEMRI Daily Brief No. 704, Foreign Aid Has Perpetuated Dictatorships, By Anna Mahjar-Barducci, January 30, 2025.
[2] Yalejournal.org/publications/smart-aid-and-the-unchaining-of-africa, March 30, 2010.
[3] Nilepost.co.ug/business/239551/economists-urge-govt-to-rethink-dependence-on-foreign-aid-following-us-aid-freeze, January 27, 2025. The article was written by Victor Tayebwa.
[4] Newvision.co.ug/category/blogs/trumps-aid-freeze-gift-to-africa-and-lesson-o-NV_204325, February 3, 2025. The article was written by Shemei Ndawula, Senior Research Fellow at Development Watch Centre.
[5] A website describing the AGOA reads: "The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a United States Trade Act, enacted on 18 May 2000 as Public Law 106 of the 200th Congress. The AGOA legislation has been renewed on different occasions, most recently in 2015, when its period of validity was extended to September 2025. The legislation significantly enhances market access to the US for qualifying Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. It does that by allocating a special program indicator ('D') to approximately 6,800 tariff lines in the US tariff schedule, which allows US importers to clear such goods – sourced from eligible African countries – duty-free under AGOA." Agoa.info/about-agoa.html, accessed February 18, 2025.
[6] Monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/letters/time-to-break-free-from-foreign-aid-dependency-4905264, January 29, 2025. The article was written by Thomas Ojjali Ujjiga, a Development Specialist.
[7] Monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/editorial/us-aid-cuts-time-to-stop-theft-of-money-4903992, January 28, 2025.
[8] Newsday.co.zw/opinion-analysis/article/200037471/us-foreign-aid-pause-a-challenge-and-an-opportunity-for-zimbabwe, January 27, 2025. The article was written by Donewell Banguere.
[9] X.com/ledamalekina/status/1884123728302256303, January 28, 2025.
[10] Bellanaija.com/2025/02/mfonobong-inyang-wake-up-africa-foreign-aid-is-not-a-development-strategy, February 7, 2025.
[11] Independent.ng/ganusi-economics-the-global-souths-addiction-to-foreign-aid-and-the-trump-shockwave, February 9, 2025.
