Since his inauguration as the 47th President of United States of America, President Donald Trump has issued a flurry of executive orders on everything from immigration to climate change to HIV/AIDS and so on. Here are 5 of the orders signed and how will these policies affect Africa as a continent?
1. Attempting to End Birthright Citizenship: The controversial order attempts to deny citizenship rights to children born illegally in the US or to parents on ttemporary visas. It is still unclear how this order will be implemented because the birthright citizenship is engrained in the US constitution.
2. Withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO): It is the second time President Donald Trump has ordered the US to pull out of the WHO and public health experts say this move could reverse progress made around the world in fighting infectious diseases like Malaria, Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDs. Interesting time for primary health care funding and research especially in West Africa.
3. Pulling Out of The Paris Climate Agreement: The Paris Climate Agreement is the landmark International deal designed to limit or lower the global rising temperature. President Trump first withdrew the US from the Paris Accord in 2017, before President Biden re-entered in 2021. Now, What are the plans for #COP30 and because this will definitely impact climate change efforts especially in the area of Climate Education and financing?
4. Pausing Foreign Aid: The order temporarily suspends all US Foreign Assistance Programs for 90 days while the administration reviews whether they align with the Trump’s administration’s policy goals. In my opinion, this is an pivotal moment for Africa to reflect on development efforts for the past 30 years. What have foreign aids been used for? In what areas are we making progress and what hinders us from standing alone as a continent?
5. Suspending The Refugee Resettlement Program: The order moves to suspend a decade-old program that offers resettlement to people around the world facing threats, violence and presecution. Trump cited the need to align the programe with American Interest. This will impact Africa especially in areas where peace and conflict is not the norm.
An intersting four years lies ahead of us. it is time for Africa to arise.