By Sanna Camara

For so many Americans on the continent, it doesn’t make much difference who wins presidential elections in the US, except for popularity and fame in the names. Yet for very obvious reasons, the coming again of Donald Trump after an interrupted second term some six years ago may not bring to the continent as many exciting news as many would think.

In this post, I want to look into some of the consequences that Africa may suffer as a result of Donald Trump’s re-election as President, especially for the United Nations, which he announced, would not cobt8nue to enjoy over half-century of America’s funding to cover its operational role as a global power house.

Historically, Trump has been critical of the UN, and during his first term, he cut funding to several UN agencies, including the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

The UNFPA supports millions of people in developing countries to attain sexual and reproductive health rights, adding value to national programmes and policies of member states of the UN from Africa. While the UNRWA has been one of the sole supporter to Palestinian Refugees in decades of the sufferings and displacement die to Israel’s onslaught against the. Cutting the liveliness to these organisations is indirectly seizing their means of living in dignity and good health, and denying developing countries a very dependable source of funding in support to activities and programmes, while the UN suffers a severe cut to its operations.

Given his past actions and statements, the Trump administration will potentially reassess and reduce funding to various UN programmes, impacting critical areas such as reproductive and maternal health, refugee support, and human rights initiatives.

The UN and its agencies are bracing for these changes, as the US is the largest single contributor to the UN’s regular budget, covering about 22%. The reduction in funding could lead to significant challenges for the UN in maintaining its operations and supporting vulnerable populations worldwide.

Cuts to UN funding, especially from a major contributor like the United States, can have significant implications for developing countries, particularly in Africa.

Here are some potential impacts:

1. Humanitarian Crises: Reductions in funding can severely affect humanitarian aid programs, leading to increased food insecurity, malnutrition, and lack of access to essential services. For instance, the World Food Programme estimates that every 1% cut in food assistance could push over 400,000 people towards starvation.

2. Healthcare and Education: Many UN programmes focus on improving healthcare and education in developing countries. Funding cuts could result in fewer resources for these critical areas, leading to poorer health outcomes and lower educational attainment.

3. Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention: Development aid is crucial for peacebuilding and preventing conflicts in fragile states. Cuts in funding could undermine these efforts, potentially leading to renewed violence and instability.

4. Economic Development: UN programmes often support economic development initiatives, such as infrastructure projects and job creation programs. Reduced funding could slow down these initiatives, hindering economic growth and increasing poverty levels.

5. Environmental Protection: Programmes aimed at environmental protection and sustainability could also suffer, impacting efforts to combat climate change and preserve natural resources.

Overall, the implications of funding cuts are far-reaching and could exacerbate existing challenges in developing countries, making it harder for them to achieve sustainable development and stability.

The cuts to the UN is just of the items on Trump’s wish list of actions to implement in his second term in office. This is why I believe that Africa must not rush to celebrate Trump’s Electoral victory as we may have more to lose than gain from it.