Duck, 
it’s Donald

INAUGURATION: Donald Trump Photo: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

INAUGURATION: Donald Trump Photo: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Published Jan 19, 2017

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AT NOON today (7pm SA time) in Washington DC, Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 45th president of the US, ushering in a new era for Americans and the world.

Three former US presidents – Bill Clinton, George W Bush, and Jimmy Carter – will attend the inauguration to witness the peaceful transfer of power, a hallmark of American democracy.

Guests have been warned of a 50% chance of rain during the swearing-in ceremony, which will be slightly warmer than President Barak Obama’s at 8ºC.

More than 60 members of the US Congress are boycotting the inauguration in protest against what they have called Trump’s alarming and divisive policies, foreign interference in his election, and his criticism of civil rights icon John Lewis.

Many have resorted to Twitter to explain their decisions not to attend, but Trump’s alleged disrespect for Lewis has been cited as the primary reason.

As Trump enters the oval office, it remains unclear what exactly his policies towards Africa will be, or how they will affect the continent. A plethora of fake news sites have posted derogatory quotes that Trump allegedly made about Africans during and after his election, although most turned out to be false.

Prior to his election Trump had seen “tremendous potential in Africa”, although he also commented on the rampant corruption and violence on the continent.

Trump has had little to say about Africa since his election.

“Africa is unlikely to feature as one of the Trump administration’s foreign policy priorities, but this may even be a good thing,” Mohamed Dangor, an adviser to South Africa’s Minister of International Relations, told Independent Media.

“My prognosis would be that the US will become more inward-looking but, like Obama, Trump will understand that he is not his own master as the American system is the American system,” Dangor said.

Given Trump’s preoccupation with containing Islamist militancy, this will likely be the key objective of his administration in dealing with Africa.

The US military command centre for Africa (Africom) is destined to play an even more central role in the US’s Africa policy, as it works with African states and regional organisations in counterterrorism initiatives.

The US has already established a series of military bases across the continent and is set to expand its drone programme.

US military bases on the continent will pose a challenge to the AU’s human rights architecture, given the fact that Trump stated as a presidential candidate that he would encourage torture in the fight against terrorism.

In terms of trade with the continent, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), which gives African countries tariff-free access to US markets, was renewed in 2015 until 2025.

“More than 98% of South African exports enter the US duty-free under various trade preference programmes, including Agoa,” Cynthia Harvey, spokesperson for the US embassy in South Africa, told Independent Media.

There have been concerns throughout the African continent that the Trump administration will significantly reduce aid and development programmes, and may even make cuts to Pepfar – George W Bush’s plan to tackle HIV/Aids in Africa.

The US has committed more than $70 billion (R955bn) to fight HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria since 2003. The programme has provided 11.5 million Africans with much-needed antiretroviral drugs.

What is likely to be of concern to the Trump administration is the fact that the US is losing out to China in terms of business and investment.

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