African presidents congratulate Trump on US election victory

Johannesburg — 

Donald Trump’s triumph implicit Democratic campaigner Vice President Kamala Harris dominated the quality rhythm crossed Africa connected Wednesday, with sum reflecting the anxiousness being felt by immoderate connected the continent.

In South Africa, the paper Business Day ran an sentiment file headlined “Trump’s comeback heralds harder U.S. attack to Africa,” portion different section newspaper, The Sunday Times, was moving a canvass for readers asking: “Are you disquieted astir Donald Trump being elected U.S. president?”

A cartoon by renowned South African governmental cartoonist Zapiro successful the Daily Maverick paper depicted a frightened looking globe watching TV arsenic U.S. predetermination results came in.

The markets were besides affected, with South Africa’s currency, the rand, dropping astir 3% connected the quality successful the aboriginal hours of trading.

Trump inspires mixed views connected the continent, having riled immoderate by calling African countries a derogatory sanction successful his archetypal term, and being viewed positively by others arsenic a benignant of “strongman” leader.

Steven Gruzd, a governmental expert with the South African Institute of International Affairs, told VOA that Trump did not wage overmuch attraction to Africa successful his archetypal word and helium doesn't expect that to change.

“Africa is not going to beryllium a precedence for the 2nd Trump medication by immoderate measure, and I don’t deliberation we should expect excessively much,” helium said. “I deliberation we’re besides going to spot a satellite that has a precise antithetic USA successful operation, and African countries volition person to determine however they woody with that.”

Asanda Ngoasheng, an autarkic expert successful Cape Town, said she believes a Trump presidency volition impact Africa successful presumption of trade, with South Africa perchance seeing its exports to the U.S. reduced.

Ngoasheng said nationalist wellness backing for Africa could besides beryllium affected nether the incoming Republican administration, peculiarly for reproductive health. Likewise, immoderate simplification successful U.S. contributions to the United Nations could person antagonistic effects connected the continent, she said.

“Donald Trump has been precise wide that his medication volition beryllium an America-first administration. … This is going to person implications for Africa,” Ngoasheng said.

As is diplomatic custom, leaders astir the satellite congratulated the U.S. predetermination winner.

Kenyan President William Ruto, who precocious paid a authorities sojourn to the U.S. astatine President Joe Biden’s invitation, praised what helium called Trump’s “visionary, bold and innovative leadership."

Nigerian person Bola Tinubu said helium hoped Trump’s presidency would usher successful an epoch of “beneficial and reciprocal economical and improvement partnerships” betwixt Africa and the U.S.

And South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa said helium looked guardant to continuing a “mutually beneficial partnership” betwixt the 2 countries.

The statements travel arsenic African governments are hoping the U.S. volition renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act, oregon AGOA, adjacent year. The preferential commercialized argumentation gives immoderate countries duty-free entree to the U.S. market.

However, the president of the Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, had different concerns astir what a 2nd Trump presidency could mean for his Indian Ocean land nation, which is nether peculiar menace from clime alteration and rising oversea levels.

“We are going done a clime crisis, truthful volition the U.S. erstwhile again propulsion retired of the Paris Agreement? ... What volition beryllium the pronouncement of President Trump?” Ramkalawan asked.

Ramkalawan, speaking astatine a property lawsuit successful Johannesburg, was referring to the information that successful his archetypal word Trump withdrew the U.S. from a large planetary statement to bounds planetary warming. The U.S. rejoined the pact nether President Biden.