China-Africa Ties and US Policy

 The Congressional Research Service published on 6 August 2026 a paper titled "China-Sub-Saharan Africa Ties and U.S. Policy" by Nicolas Cook, Lauren Ploch Blanchard, and Michael D. Sutherland.

China presents its engagement in Africa as promoting mutually beneficial economic development without imposing political conditions.  In practice, China seeks to use integrated multidimensional engagement to advance its broader global strategic goals of expanding its international influence, strengthening its access to natural resources, and challenging US global leadership.

Economic activity is a central pillar of China's activity in Africa.  Beijing's policy banks and state-backed lenders have extended numerous loans to African governments and other actors, making China a key bilateral creditor on the continent.  China engages in education and media cooperation, and provides development aid via grants and concessional loans, technical assistance, and humanitarian programs. Security cooperation between China and African countries has grown, especially over the last decade. 

China-Sub-Saharan Africa Ties and U.S. Policy

 The Congressional Research Service published on 6 August 2026 a report titled "China-Sub-Saharan Africa Ties and U.S. Policy" by Nicolas Cook, Lauren Ploch Blanchard, and Michael D. Sutherland.

This is a comprehensive overview of China's relations with Sub-Saharan Africa and guidance for US policymakers.  

How Many Deaths Is Demise of USAID Causing?

 The Economist published on 30 July 2026 an article titled "How Many People Are Dying as a Result of USAID's Demise?"

Elon Musk, who is responsible for dismantling the US Agency for International Development (USAID), insists it has not cost any human lives.  The influential publication, Lancet, estimates that by 2030, 14 million people will die as a result of USAID's demise.

The Economist explains that the drop in US health funding has been less cataclysmic than originally predicted and that early estimates of deaths drew on trends that may no longer be valid.  While the early estimates of deaths are too high, Musk's notion of zero deaths is plainly wrong. Lives have been lost.

Ebola and the Dismantlement of USAID

 The American Security Project published on 24 June 2026 a commentary titled "From Aid Cuts to Ebola: A Predictable Crisis Unfolds" by Mohamed Siddiqui.  

The dismantlement of USAID, removal of its on the ground personnel in the DRC and Uganda, and cutting of foreign aid funding for health programs has left international humanitarian groups to provide the bulk of the support for affected communities.  The result has been predictable: a faster spread of Ebola and greater cost to bring it under control.  

US-China Space-based Competition in Africa

 Space News published on 22 June 2026 a commentary titled "America Is About to Cede Africa's Space Industry to China, and Nobody's Talking About It" by Philip Dackiw.  

As China advances its own space program, there is still an opportunity for US companies to forge space-based partnerships in Africa, which is looking at significant space-focused technological expansion.  If the US does not seize this opportunity, China will.  

Foreign Aid: US Congress vs the Trump Administration

 Propublica published on 22 June 2026 an article titled "'A Huge Grab of Power': Trump Is Defying Congress on Foreign Aid" by Anna Maria Barry-Jester.  

Bipartisan support for foreign aid remains in the US Congress despite the Trump administration's dismantlement of the US Agency for International Development and its effort to minimize US foreign assistance now administered by the State Department, which does not have the capacity to manage it in any event.  

US Aid Cuts Undermine South Africa's Response to HIV/AIDS

 Devex Newswire posted on 4 March 2026 an article titled "US Aid Cuts Gut South Africa's HIV Fight" by Helen Murphy.

South Africa bears the world's largest HIV/AIDS burden.  US foreign aid cuts and the dismantlement of USAID have ripped through its response to the disease, forcing clinics to close and leaving thousands of vulnerable patients scrambling for care.  A State Department spokesperson responded that it is time for governments to take responsibility for the lives of people in their countries.  

Rethinking Aid in Sudan and South Sudan

 The Rift Valley Institute published in 2026 a paper titled "Rethinking Aid in Sudan and South Sudan."

More than 30 grassroots and international non-governmental organizations convened in Kampala, Uganda, in November 2025 to discuss the future of development and humanitarian aid to Sudan and South Sudan in view of the dramatic contraction of assistance, especially as a result of the dismantlement of USAID.  They proposed numerous recommendations to deal with the crisis.  

As UK and US Retreat from Africa, China Steps Up Media Effort

 The Independent published on 30 January 2026 an article titled "How UK Aid Cuts Help China Win the Battle for Hearts and Minds in Africa" by Dani Madrid-Morales, University of Sheffield.

The British and American retreat from Africa is being cleverly exploited by China to win the hearts and minds of Africans.  Much of China's success is due to its all-out effort to dominate the media domain in Africa as Western outlets pull back.

Dismantlement of USAID Projected to Result in Many Deaths

 CNN published on 4 February 2026 an article titled "One Year on from Dismantlement of USAID, Study Projects that Global Aid Cuts Could Lead to 9.4 Million Deaths by 2030" by Lauren Kent.

The Trump administration dismantled the US Agency for International Development (USAID) early last year.  A new study by the Lancet medical journal projects that the human toll of these aid cuts could lead to at least 9.4 million additional deaths by 2030.

The Center for Global Development reports that the dismantlement of USAID may have led to between 500,000 to 1,000,000 lives lost in 2025 compared to previous years.  

Slashing Climate Resilience Programs Does Not Put America First

 Foreign Affairs published on 16 January 2026 an article titled "Less Foreign Aid, More Climate Risk: The Massive Costs of Gutting USAID" by Alice Hill and Lindsey Doyle.

Modest investment in USAID-financed climate-resilience projects has been gutted by the Trump administration.  Slashing funding and decimating the institutions that deliver it is neither fiscal prudence nor putting America first.  

Reconstituting a New Foreign Aid Department

 The Hill published on 8 January 2026 a commentary titled "What Americans Lost in the Dismantling of USAID" by J. Brian Atwood and Andrew S. Natsios.  

The dismantlement of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) is resulting in numerous deaths globally, many of them due to setbacks in food security and health care.  The authors, former directors of USAID, urge Congress to create a new cabinet level U.S. Department for International Aid by transferring foreign assistance programs from a dozen departments and agencies.

China's Foreign Aid Policy

 The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published in January 2026 a study titled "China and the Changing International Development Landscape" by Jingdong Yuan.  

The current level of China's overseas development assistance makes it impossible for Beijing to fill the gap left by the dismantlement of the US Agency for International Development.  Beijing is more willing to promote its development aid model of infrastructure-driven and trade-related growth.

State Department Tries to Manage Foreign Aid without Adequate Staff

 Foreign Policy published on 16 December 2025 an article titled "The Trump Administration's Epochal Shift on Foreign Aid" by Deborah Kaliel and Phillip Palmer, both former USAID officials.

The Trump administration abolished the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and shifted its remnants into a State Department that was and still is inadequately staffed to handle the new responsibilities.  

Comment: It should have come as a surprise to no one that the State Department was ill-prepared to add responsibility for running what is left of American foreign aid programs, especially following sharp reductions in State Department staffing.  While USAID operated in missions overseas closely affiliated with the US embassy, all of the USAID offices closed at the demand of Elon Musk and DOGE.  State Department personnel, unfamiliar with USAID programs, were expected to pick up the pieces.  This was obviously not going to work, and US foreign policy is now paying a steep price for this mistake.

USAID Dismantlement Causes Painful Cuts in Humanitarian Aid

 The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace published on 10 December 2025 a report titled "The Painful, Seismic Shift in Humanitarian Aid -- And What's Next" by Allison Lombardo and Stewart Patrick.  

For decades the United States was by far the world's largest humanitarian aid donor.  In 2024, it provided 38 percent of total emergency assistance tracked by the United Nations.  The dismantlement of the US Agency for International Development by the Trump administration changed all of this.

The Trump administration's proposed FY2026 budget cuts funding for humanitarian aid by 70 percent.  It cut funding for the World Food Program by more than 90 percent and made huge cuts in funding for UNICEF and the International Organization for migration.  

Africa is the biggest loser in these US cutbacks.  The continent accounts for 10 of the 13 hardest hit countries.  

China Gifts Headquarters of Economic Community of West African States

 The South China Morning Post published on 13 December 2025 an article titled "How China-built ECOWAS Headquarters Is Latest 'Concrete Symbol' of Africa Ties" by Jevans Nyabiage.  

China gifted the $32 million headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, of the Economic Community of West African States.  It is the latest example of building diplomacy and China's program to build influence with African countries.

China Emphasizes Health Care Aid to Africa

 The Economist published on 27 November 2025 an article titled "The Changing Shape of Chinese Aid to Africa."

Since COVID-19, China has stepped up its aid to health care in Africa as the United States withdraws its support.  The US says it remains committed to being "the world's health leader" by routing assistance mainly through recipient country governments.

Comment:  It is still too early in the Trump administration to judge if the new US approach will work as predicted.  With the dismantlement of the US Agency for International Development, there are no longer field personnel to monitor aid programs, and it is questionable if State Department personnel at embassies abroad have the bandwidth to do this.

Will the Courts Save American Foreign Aid?

 The New York Times published on 3 November 2025 an article titled "The Monthslong Legal Battle to Save Foreign Aid" by Zach Montague.

During the past 9 months, the Trump administration dismantled the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and continues efforts to end most foreign aid.  The courts are the final obstacle to this effort as the US Congress remains AWOL.  The courts have not yet settled the core issues at stake although USAID no longer exists as an organization. 

USAID Shutdown Has Severe Impact on African Health Programs

 The Washington Post published on 10 October 2025 an article titled "Medical Supply Shortages Follow U.S. Aid Cuts in Africa" by Tobi Raji and Katharine Houreld.  

Africa has reportedly lost more than $8 Billion in funding since the Trump administration dismantled USAID earlier this year, The impact has been especially significant in the case of US-financed health care programs.  The article emphasizes the damage on programs in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, Sudan, and Zimbabwe.

Sudan Conflict Impacts Stability in Chad

 The International Crisis Group published on 1 September 2025 an analysis titled "Keeping Chad Stable as Sudan's Conflict Rages."

Chadian support for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in neighboring Sudan's war with the Sudan Armed Forces has embroiled Ndjamena in the conflict.  Chad also hosts about 875,000 Sudanese refugees and 300,000 Chadian returnees, creating a humanitarian crisis.  The end of US aid, increasing crime, and ethnic conflict are exacerbating the situation.  The UAE is playing an outsized role in Sudan and Chad.

For a French translation, click here.