The Trump administration's decision to cut USAID funding and potentially shut it down has sparked intense debate. While some argue that this move undermines humanitarian efforts, others see it as an opportunity for Africa to break free from decades of dependency. 

The reality is that foreign aid, despite trillions of dollars funneled into Africa over the years, has done little to foster sustainable development. Instead, it has fueled corruption, maintained underdevelopment, and perpetuated external control over the continent. Now, with USAID’s influence waning, Africa must seize this moment to reclaim its sovereignty and chart its own path to prosperity.

The notion is that international aid has always operated under a dual mandate—helping those in need while advancing political, economic, and military interests. USAID, like other aid organizations, has balanced these competing intentions across different U.S. administrations. While some programs have genuinely improved lives—supporting infrastructure, education, and healthcare—others have primarily served U.S. geopolitical goals.

Aid has historically functioned as a tool of control rather than development. According to Dambisa Moyo’s Dead Aid, systematic foreign assistance has contributed to Africa’s stagnation by fostering corruption, reducing local investment, and discouraging self-sufficiency. Trillions have been spent, yet African nations remain mired in poverty. The cycle is clear: more aid leads to more corruption, which in turn hampers economic growth and necessitates even more aid.

Since its inception, USAID has been a major channel for U.S. foreign assistance. In 2023 alone, the agency managed more than $40 billion in appropriations, a sum that represents about 0.2% of the U.S. federal budget. Proponents highlight USAID’s achievements, such as providing electricity to 180 million people in sub-Saharan Africa and securing $86 billion in private sector deals. Health programs, particularly PEPFAR, claim to have saved over 25 million lives from HIV/AIDS.

However, these figures obscure a harsher truth. How much of that funding truly reached its intended beneficiaries? While some aid has undoubtedly provided relief, much of it has been siphoned off by corrupt officials or spent on temporary solutions that fail to address structural challenges. South Sudan, for example, remains dependent on food aid, which has eroded local farming. Temporary clinics, funded by foreign donors, have stunted the development of real healthcare systems. “This isn’t support—it’s a chokehold designed to keep us weak,” remarked one South Sudanese critic.

While the immediate effect of USAID’s withdrawal will be painful—affecting healthcare, education, and governance programs—it also serves as a wake-up call. Africa is not poor; it is mismanaged. The continent is home to 11 of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies and possesses vast natural resources. Yet, decades of reliance on aid have stifled innovation, weakened local institutions, and made African governments complacent.

Senator Chris Murphy openly admitted that “USAID spends money to counter Chinese influence in Africa, ensure access to critical mineral supplies, and combat Hezbollah in Lebanon.” This statement exposes the reality: aid is less about altruism and more about maintaining U.S. strategic dominance.

The fearmongering surrounding USAID’s shutdown ignores an essential fact—Africa does not need more aid; it needs better leadership. If hospitals close due to aid cuts, it is not Washington’s failure but that of African governments that have refused to invest in their own people. The African Union must take the lead in finding sustainable solutions rather than waiting for another foreign donor to fill the gap.

Africa cannot afford to replace one donor with another. The era of simply seeking new benefactors—whether from the West, China, or the Middle East—must end. Rather than looking for external actors to fill the funding gap left by USAID, African nations must work to close that gap themselves. This means mobilizing domestic resources, increasing tax efficiency, and reducing reliance on raw material exports by developing local industries. It is not about shutting the door to foreign partnerships but ensuring that any external engagement aligns with Africa’s self-sufficiency goals rather than reinforcing dependence.

The Trump administration’s decision to cut aid is not a death sentence—it is an opportunity. Africa must transition from aid dependence to self-reliance. This means:

Now is not the time for more rhetoric. African leaders must show vision, capability, and commitment to real change. The era of waiting for Western aid must end. It is time for Africa to take responsibility for its own future. By focusing on self-reliance, innovation, and good governance, the continent can break free from the cycle of aid dependency and forge a new path toward lasting prosperity.

For too long, Africa has been viewed as a continent in need of saving. But the truth is, Africa has the potential to save itself. The Trump administration’s USAID cuts should not be seen as a loss, but as a challenge—one that Africa is more than capable of meeting. The road ahead will not be easy, but with determination, strategic investments, and strong leadership, Africa can finally take its rightful place as a global economic powerhouse.