African Views of the US vis-a-vis China Fall Since Beginning of Trump Administration

 The Pew Research Center published on 15 July 2026 research results titled "People in Many Countries Now View China More Positively than the U.S." by Jonathan Schulman, Laura Silver, Laura Clancy, and William Miner.

Pew surveyed public opinion of the United States and China in 36 countries, including 4--South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana--in Africa.  Since the beginning of the Trump administration, positive perceptions of the United States in the 4 African countries vis-a-vis China have fallen, although the US still maintains a slight lead in Ghana. 

Positive views of the United States and China today are: 

South Africa: 35 percent for the US and 52 percent for China

Nigeria: 63 percent for the US and 78 percent for China

Kenya: 63 percent for the US and 76 percent for China

Ghana: 68 percent for the US and 64 percent for China

When asked if they are confident Donald Trump or Xi Jinping will do the right thing, the results were:

South Africa: 26 percent for Trump and 46 percent for Xi

Kenya: 63 percent for Trump and 73 percent for Xi

Ghana: 54 percent for Trump and 56 percent for Xi

Nigeria: 65 percent for Trump and 62 percent for Xi

  

A Somali Refugee's Arrival in America and the Situation Today

 The Washington Post posted on 15 December 2025 a commentary titled "I Came from Somalia at 19.  Let Me Tell You about the America I Met" by Mohamed Osman Mohamed.  

This is the account of a Somali who arrived in the United States in 2010 from the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya.  Now the executive director of the Nation of Poets in Minneapolis, he describes the welcome and help he received upon arrival and how that situation has changed so negatively today.

Rubio Says Only Trump Can Resolve Sudan Crisis

 Aljazeera published on 4 December 2025 an article titled "Rubio Says Trump to Get Involved in Sudan Peace Efforts as Civil War Rages."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on 3 December that President Trump has been personally overseeing efforts to bring an end to the war in Sudan.  He added that Trump is "the only leader in the world capable of resolving the Sudan crisis."

Representative Ilhan Omar Responds to President Trump

 The New York Times published on 4 December 2025 an opinion piece titled "Ilhan Omar: Trump Knows He's Failing.  Cue the Bigotry."

Representative Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minneapolis, responded to President Trump's vilification of her personally and the Minnesota Somali community generally.  She described Trump's remarks as "hate speech" and contributing to xenophobia.  

Trump Lashes Out at Somalis in US

 The Wall Street Journal published on 2 December 2025 an article titled "Trump Says He Doesn't Want Somali Immigrants in U.S. as ICE Plans Operation" by Michelle Hackman, Natalie Andrews, and Jack Morphet.  

President Trump said he does not want immigrants from Somalia in the country ahead of an expected ICE operation in Minnesota, where the Somali American community is concentrated.  Last month, Trump said he would revoke Temporary Protected Status for Somalis in Minnesota.  

He referred to Somali American elected member of Congress, Ilhan Omar, as "garbage."  Omar responded that "his obsession with me is creepy" and "I hope he gets the help he desperately needs." 

Trump Now Turns Against Somalis in Minnesota

 The Washington Post published on 22 November 2025 an article titled "Trump Says He Will Cancel Temporary Protected Status of Somalis in Minnesota" by Frances Vinall.  

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump said, without evidence and without providing further explanation, that "Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State, and BILLIONS of dollars are missing."  As a result, he was terminating effective immediately temporary protected status (TPS) for Somali immigrants living in Minnesota.  

The Minnesota Attorney General pointed out that you cannot terminate TPS for just one state.  There are more than 75,000 persons with Somali heritage living in Minnesota.  Few of them reside there with TPS; the vast majority are US citizens.  According to the Library of Congress, nationwide there were only 705 Somalis with TPS as of August.  

President Trump Turns to Sudan Crisis

 POLITICO published on 19 November 2025 an article titled "The Next Item on Donald Trump's Foreign Policy Agenda: Sudan" by Gregory Svirnovskiy.  

At the request of visiting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Trump said he would engage personally in efforts to end the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.  He acknowledged that the issue had not previously been on his agenda.

The Eastleigh Voice published on 18 November 2025 an article titled "IGAD Leads New Push for Peace in Sudan as Regional and Global Partners Back Three-step Plan" by Mary Wambui.

This article provides an update on efforts by special envoy Massad Boulos and the US-led Quad (US, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and UAE) to end the conflict in Sudan.  The Quad's three-step plan begins with a three-month humanitarian truce, followed by a permanent cease fire, and concluding with a nine-month political process to establish a civilian-led government.  The African Union, Intergovernmental Authority for Development, European Union, and League of Arab States support the initiative.  

Ending Sudan's War

 The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 14 November 2025 a statement titled "After El Fasher: Ending Sudan's Atrocious War."

The ICG concludes that to get a cease fire and make it stick, the Trump administration will simultaneously have to persuade Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to take the deal proposed by the Quad (US, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and UAE) over the objections of his shaky domestic coalition and insist that the UAE throttle back patronage for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The ICG also noted the Quad will need to devote a united effort to achieve this goal and ensure the eventual creation of a civilian government.  

Understanding Nigeria and President Trump's Threat to Engage Militarily

 The Hudson Institute published in November 2025 an analysis titled "A Better Understanding of Nigeria's Problems" by James Barnett.  

This is a reasoned analysis of the current situation in Nigeria and useful discussion of President Trump's recent social media post to send US troops into Nigeria "guns-a-blazing."  The author concludes: "Insisting on a heightened and visible military posture would face international risk and political resistance within Nigeria."

Only American Pressure Can End the Killing in Sudan

 Foreign Affairs published on 6 November 2025 a commentary titled "Terror Returns to Darfur: Only American Pressure Can Stop the Killing in Sudan" by Alex de Waal, World Peace Foundation.  

The author has studied and worked in Sudan for 40 years.  He concludes that "however terrible the war and its consequent famine in Sudan is today, it can still get much worse."  He argues that only strong US pressure and the personal engagement of President Trump can end the fighting.  

South Africa Asks for Postponement of Naval Exercise with China and Russia

 The Associated Press published on 4 September 2025 an article titled "South Africa Asks China to Postpone Naval Exercises that Coincide with Possible Trump Trip for G20" by Gerald Imray.  

South Africa, China, and Russia had planned to hold their biennial joint naval exercise in late November.  South Africa asked China to postpone the exercise because it coincides with the 22-23 November meeting in South Africa of the G-20, which President Trump may attend.  

Controversy Over Funding of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

 The BBC posted on 23 July 2025 an article titled "Ethiopian Official Denies Donald Trump's Claim that US Funded River Nile Dam" by Wedaeli Chibelushi.

President Trump asserted in a meeting last week that "US money largely" funded the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.  An Ethiopian official responded that Ethiopia built the dam "without any foreign aid."  The money came from Ethiopian bonds sold to companies, pledges from Ethiopian government civil service salaries, and donations from the Ethiopian diaspora.

Comment:  I am not aware of any US government funding for the dam.  The Ethiopian diaspora in the United States made a modest but not precisely known contribution to GERD funding.  

American Foreign Service Association Sues President Trump

 USA Today published on 8 April 2025 an article titled "Foreign Service Union Representing 18,000 Workers Sues Trump Administration" by Erin Mansfield.  

The American Foreign Service Association is suing President Donald Trump and his administration for ending its ability to negotiate work conditions with the federal government.  

Text of Legal Injunction to Stop Dismantling of USAID

 The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) filed on 6 February a Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief against Donald Trump, the US Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, the United States Treasury Department, Marco Rubio, and Scott Bessent.

The action seeks "injunctive relief with respect to a series of unconstitutional and illegal actions taken by President Donald Trump and his administration that have systematically dismantled the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)."  The plaintiffs "seek a temporary restraining order directing Defendents to reverse these unlawful actions and to halt any further steps to dissolve the agency until the Court has an opportunity to more fully consider the issues on the merits."

Trump-appointed federal judge Carl Nichols of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia approved on 7 February a limited temporary restraining order that would block USAID employees from being put on administrative leave.  Details on the pause will follow in a forthcoming filing.

US Strikes Islamic State in Northern Somalia

 The Associated Press published on 1 February 2025 an article titled "US Military Conducts Airstrikes against Islamic State Operatives in Somalia" by Tara Copp, Aamer Madhani, and Omar Faruk.  

The U.S. military conducted airstrikes on 1 February against Islamic State operatives in the Puntland region of northern Somalia.  No details have been released on the results of the strikes.  

Angola Sees No Need to Choose Between China and the US

 The New York Times published on 28 November 2024 an article titled "One of Biden's Closest Allies in Africa Is Ready to Court Trump" by John Eligon.

Angolan President Joao Lourenco commented in an interview that his government is no longer interested in taking loans from China that are tied to repayment in oil.  He added that Angola does not believe it is necessary to choose between China and the United States.  

Podcast on Africa and US Elections

 This is a one hour and 15-minute Beyond Africa podcast with me hosted by Bernard Ngalim.  The major issues discussed are the impact of the upcoming election in the United States on Africa policy, Project 2025 and Africa, trade, aid, investment, and the role of the U.S. private sector.  

Would a Harris/Walz Administration Shift US-China Policy?

 World Politics Review published on 17 September 2024 a commentary titled "Harris--and Walz--Could Shift the Focus of U.S. Policy on China" by Mary Gallagher, Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame.

Democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, and her vice-presidential running mate, Tim Walz, could shift the way Washington looks at China.  While Harris has relatively little experience concerning China, Walz has had a long relationship with the country.  The author speculates this combination of background could result in a China policy that is tougher on Beijing's human rights record than was the case in either the Biden or Trump administration.    

Ethiopian-American to Head Harris Transition Team

 NBC News published on 23 August 2024 an article titled "Harris Transition Team Takes Shape with a Biden Official in Key Post" by Aaron Gilchrist.

The Kamala Harris campaign tapped Ethiopian-American and current ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Yohannes Abraham, to head the presidential transition team if she wins the upcoming election against Donald Trump.  In 2020, Yohannes was the executive director of the Biden transition team.  He was born in Virginia; his parents immigrated from Ethiopia.  

Podcast on US Elections, Africa Policy, and Horn of Africa

 Tigrai Press posted on 28 July 2024 a one-hour podcast with me hosted by Bisrat Kebede.  The conversation focuses initially on the election campaign between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, implications of the election for Africa policy, and Project 2025.  The remainder of the podcast deals with many of the ongoing issues in the Horn of Africa.