For too long, Africa has played the waiting game, patiently relying on external partners for lifelines. But as the global north turns inward, with America’s “America First” doctrine now freezing billions in foreign aid, Africa stands at a pivotal crossroads. It’s time to rip off the dependency bandage and boldly declare: Africa First.
This isn’t just a catchy slogan. It’s a clarion call for a new mindset, one that prioritizes homegrown solutions, regional cooperation, and sustainable development anchored in African agency. The idea that development can be outsourced is not only outdated, but dangerously disempowering.
For decades, the United States and African nations have collaborated on wide-ranging socioeconomic initiatives, from combating HIV/AIDS to expanding access to education and food security. In the ten years before 2023, the U.S. directed around 70% of its nonhumanitarian aid for Africa toward health programs, largely HIV-related. These efforts saved lives and built goodwill, but they also created a structural overreliance.
And now, the faucet is being turned off.
The Trump-era resurgence of isolationism, now echoed across Europe and other donor states, has exposed the vulnerability of Africa’s development model. Washington’s “America First” policy isn’t just a U.S. matter; it’s a wake-up call. When donors shift priorities, Africa shouldn’t be left scrambling. Instead, the continent must seize this moment to redefine its relationship with the world, from aid recipient to equal partner.
“Africa First” demands an audacious and deliberate pivot. It means African governments taking bold steps to mobilize domestic resources and redirect them toward strategic infrastructure, health care systems, education, and innovation hubs. It means investing in African people as the most valuable capital, from rural farmers to tech-savvy youth.
It also requires dismantling the perception that development must be imported. The continent is not short of talent, ambition, or ideas. What’s missing is the confidence and coordination to scale African-led initiatives, fund African-grown businesses, and support regional integration without waiting for a foreign nod.
This shift won’t be easy. Deep-seated structural dependencies, weak financial systems, and governance gaps remain major hurdles. But necessity breeds innovation and Africa is overdue for its leap forward. Rwanda’s health insurance scheme, Ethiopia’s homegrown economic reform, and Nigeria’s tech startup boom are all signs that the future doesn’t need foreign permission.
Moreover, embracing an “Africa First” posture doesn’t mean rejecting global partnerships. It means entering them on African terms. It means ensuring that trade, investment, and diplomatic arrangements prioritize Africa’s interests, not just those of foreign powers looking for markets or minerals.
Africa must also learn to speak with one voice. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provides a platform to do so. A united Africa negotiating from a position of strength can shape fairer global rules, especially in climate, trade, and digital governance. Fragmented voices are easy to ignore. A chorus of ambition is not.
Some may argue that cutting foreign aid will derail progress. But perhaps it is the very reliance on aid that has stalled it. Development born of dependency is unsustainable. Development born of determination is unstoppable.
As populism and nationalism sweep across donor nations, Africa must respond not with panic, but purpose. “Africa First” isn’t a reaction. It’s a reawakening.
