Dismantling USAID: The Economist Charts Impacts

 The Economist published on 15 July 2025 an article titled "Five Charts Explain Trump's Cuts to Foreign Aid."

The Economist displays in five charts the impact of the dismantlement of USAID.  In terms of impact as a percent of gross national income, Africa is the most affected continent.  Funding cuts by sector primarily impact infrastructure (100%), basic education (99%), administrative costs (94%), and maternal and child health (92%).

The least affected programs are economic growth (12%), refugees and IDPs (13%), and HIV/AIDS (20%).  Projected global deaths in 2026 due to the health care cuts total 973,000.  

Preserving Ethiopia's Archaeology and Cultural Heritage

 Ethiopia Insight published on 7 July 2025 a commentary titled "Ethiopia's Vanishing Heritage: The Crisis in Archaeology and Cultural Preservation" by Negasi Awetehey, former head of the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Management at Aksum University.

Ethiopia's extensive archaeological heritage crumbles daily while the experts trained in Ethiopian universities who could save it are jobless or stuck in roles that ignore their training.  

Chinese Central Communist Party School Delegation Visits Nigeria

 The Nigerian Tribune posted on 26 June 2025 an article titled "Nigeria, China Partner to Advance Cooperation on Public Sector Reform."

A delegation from the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC) visited Nigeria to facilitate an exchange of ideas and best practices in public sector reform.  The head of the Central Party School delegation described the structure and mandate of the school and its critical role in shaping governance and public administration in China.

Comment:  This is yet another example of the CPC reaching out to African countries to strengthen party-to-party ties.  

Analysis and Recommendations for a Post-Conflict Somalia

 The Heritage Institute for Policy Studies published in June 2025 a document titled "Somalia's Post-Conflict Experience: Political Rifts, Security Challenges, and Social Crises."

It contains 6 conference papers by different authors from the December 2022 Annual Forum for Ideas held in Djibouti and hosted by the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies. The first section examines governance crises, security threats, political divisions and three key types of conflict that continue to shape the political and social realities of post-civil war Somalia.  The second section presents viable solutions aimed at fostering reconciliation and social cohesion.

A key lesson to be drawn from this analysis is that the interplay between governance disputes, militant insurgencies, and social intolerance among the people demonstrates the complexity of Somalia's challenges.  

African Students: China Wins and US Loses

 The New York Times published on 7 June 2025 an article titled "China's Quiet Win: Outmaneuvering U.S. for Africa's Future Leaders" by Abdi Latif Dahir.  

As the Trump administration tightens restrictions for international students to enter the United States, Africans increasingly are opting to study in China, attracted by government scholarships, affordable tuition, lower living costs, and easier entry requirements.  

Review of Our China-Africa Book

 The June 2025 issue of Pacific Affairs contains a review by Deborah Brautigam of our book titled China's Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement.

Valentino Achak Deng Is the South Sudanese Antidote to South African Elon Musk

The New York Times published on 22 March 2025 an opinion piece titled "Meet the Opposite of Elon Musk" by Nicholas Kristof. 

Kristof tells the story of Valentino Achak Deng, a South Sudanese refugee, who made his way to Atlanta and returned to South Sudan to set up a school under exceedingly difficult conditions.  Elon Musk came to the United States from South Africa and made a fortune.  One exudes empathy while the other, well you decide.  

Closing USAID Weakens American Power Globally

 The Washington Times published on 17 March 2025 a commentary titled "Closing USAID Will Weaken the Foundation of American Power" by Andrew Natsios, USAID administrator under President George W. Bush.

Elon Musk has fabricated unsubstantiated claims of fraud and program failure as he dismantled USAID, ending one of the most cost effective instruments of American influence around the world.

Confucius Institutes and the Spread of Mandarin in Africa

 Global China Pulse published on 24 February 2025 an article titled "Confucius Institutes and the Spread of Mandarin Chinese in Africa" by Simbarashe Gukurume, Sol Plaatje University in South Africa. 

Some 16 African countries have incorporated Mandarin teaching in their national education systems and about 30 universities have established Chinese majors.  Confucius Institutes are important platforms for expanding not only Chinese language and culture, but also the world view, norms, values, and political philosophies of the Chinese government and the Communist Party of China.

American Foreign Aid: Where It Goes and Why

 The Wall Street Journal published on 10 February 2025 an article titled "How Much the U.S. Spent on Foreign Aid--and Where It Went" by Gabriele Steinhauser and Ming Li.

This is a useful analysis of the money spent by the United States Agency for International Development that the Trump administration is in the process of dismantling. It explains where the money goes, how it compares to foreign aid from other countries, how it is distributed, and which countries receive most of it.  

Impact of USAID Dismantlement on Africa

 The New York Times published on 8 February 2025 an article titled "'We Are in Disbelief': Africa Reels as U.S. Aid Agency Is Dismantled" by Declan Walsh. 

The collapse of USAID at the hands of Elon Musk and the Trump Administration is causing African governments to wonder how they will fill gaping holes in vital health and education services.  This action is also doing irreparable damage to US policy and interests on the continent.  

A Russian Analysis of Russia-Africa Relations

 The Valdai Discussion Club published in November 2024 a paper titled "Russia-Africa: Overcoming Challenges" by Vladimir Shubin, Institute of African Studies, Russian Academy of Science.

This paper offers a Russian view of Russia-Africa relations by a well known academic who has specialized in African affairs.  He offers a history of Soviet Union/Russia relations with Africa and operates on the assumption that "Russia and Africa need each other."

The author concludes that Russia has had more success enhancing political relations with Africa than economic ties.  Trade and Russian investment have fallen short of expectations.  Russia is expanding its soft power.  For example, 34,000 African students are now studying in Russia. He sees Russian advantages over the West because Moscow does not have a colonial history in the continent. 

Review of our China-Africa Book

 The November 2024 issue of the African Studies Quarterly includes a review of China's Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement by David Shinn and Joshua Eisenman published in 2023 by Columbia University Press.  Phill Wilcox of Bielefeld University did the review.  

China and Zimbabwe Open Joint Research Center

 Xinhua published on 13 October 2024 an article titled "Chinese, Zimbabwean Universities Launch Research Center on Civilization Exchanges."

The China-Africa Joint Research Center for Exchanges and Mutual Learning between Civilizations opened on 11 October at the University of Zimbabwe in collaboration with Renmin University of China.  The spokesperson for the University of Zimbabwe emphasized joint research projects and exchange programs that focus on innovation and industrialization.  The spokesperson from Renmin University said the center will promote exchanges and research in education and scientific cooperation.  

Suggestions for Canada's Engagement in Africa in Shadow of China

 Canada's Institute for Research on Public Policy published on its digital Policy Options platform on 26 September 2024 a commentary titled "As China Courts Africa, Canada Must Rethink Its Africa Strategy" by Isaac Odoom, Carleton University.  

The expansion of China's engagement in Africa poses a challenge for Canada to find a path to work with Africa in a meaningful way.  The author says Canada should offer something distinct from Western paternalism and China's transactional partnerships.  He suggests that Canada leverage its African diaspora, capitalize on strength in green energy and digital innovation, invest in training African youth, and promote good governance.  

Syllabus for China-Africa Relations Course - Fall Semester 2024

 This is a syllabus for a graduate level course on China-Africa relations during the fall 2024 semester in the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University.  

Review of Our China-Africa Book

 H-Diplo published in July 2024 a review of our 2023 book titled China's Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement.  Nial Duggan, University College Cork, reviewed the book.  

Promoting Peace in South Sudan

 The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published in June 2024 a paper titled "Towards Humanitarian Action that Intentionally Promotes Peace in South Sudan" by Simone Bunse, Caroline Delgado, and Marie Riquier.  

The paper proposes four theories of change for international peacebuilding.  The first relates to livelihood opportunities and keeping children in school.  The second concerns the connectedness between diverse ethnicities and communities through conflict-sensitive volunteerism.  The third consists in helping socialized program volunteers transition into leadership roles for greater transformational impacts.  The fourth involves vertical and horizontal integration with broader development and peacebuilding efforts.  

Growing Up in a Somali Refugee Camp

 The Washington Post published on 19 June 2024 an article titled "Futures on Hold, Dreams of Escape" by Malin Fezehai and Rael Ombuor.

In 1991, UNHCR established a refugee camp at Dadaab in neighboring Kenya for Somalis fleeing the conflict between government forces and the al-Shabaab terrorist organization.  Today, Dadaab is still 97 percent Somali and houses 380,000 people.  The refugees once dreamed of returning to a peaceful Somalia; now they dream of being resettled in North America or Australia by UNHCR.  One of the few tickets out of Dadaab is superior performance in high school and admission to a university  

What Africa Can Learn from China's Rise

 Foreign Policy published on 12 June 2024 an analysis titled "What Africa Can Learn from China's Rise" by Howard W. French.

The author argues that much of China's rise and ability to overcome poverty is due to its focus on education and sustained investment in human infrastructure.  He urges African countries learn from this example.