United States (US) President Donald Trump took his ongoing conflict with South Africa to a new level on Wednesday when he hosted President Cyril Ramaphosa.
In what has been described as an ambush of Ramaphosa, Trump produced videos and news items to accuse South Africa of “white genocide” during a meeting in the famed Oval Office.
EDITOR’S PICKS
The accusation has led to the US admitting some 50 Afrikaners as refugees last week and cutting all funding to South Africa in February.
The most recent US government data shows that the country allocated nearly $440 million in assistance to South Africa in 2023.
In addition to this funding cut, the US had been funding 17% of South Africa’s HIV budget until Trump slashed the aid earlier this year.
South Africa has the world’s highest burden of HIV, with about 8 million people—one in five adults—living with the virus.
In a recent report, Reuters stated that viral load testing in South Africa fell by up to 21% among key groups in the last two months, which four HIV experts attributed to the loss of US funding.
With South Africa struggling due to its dependence on US aid, here are some lessons Nigeria can learn from the US’s treatment of South Africa:
Firstly, the Federal Government should diversify funding sources, such as strengthening ties with China, the European Union (EU), or multilateral institutions like the African Development Bank, to cushion against shifts in US policy and cuts in foreign aid.
The US has shown it may cut or threaten aid to countries over political or policy disagreements, such as South Africa’s land reform policies, which it perceives as contentious. Therefore, Nigeria should recognise that US aid can be conditional on aligning with American interests and ensure it is not wholly dependent on the US for assistance.
Secondly, Nigeria, which currently relies heavily on US aid for health and security programmes, should invest in domestic revenue streams, such as improving tax collection (currently at a low 6–8% of GDP), to ensure critical sectors like healthcare and defence remain funded should the US withdraw support abruptly. As South Africa struggles to fill the gap left by US aid cuts, HIV experts have warned that the reduction in diagnostic testing could lead to preventable deaths.
The US, through USAID, contributed approximately $2.8 billion to Nigerian healthcare between 2022 and 2024. This funding has been integral to the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and polio. With the possibility of funding cuts, Nigeria will need to look inward.
In March, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved N4.8 billion for the procurement of 150,000 HIV treatment packs under the 2024/2025 HIV Programme Alignment. The Federal Government is also strengthening national systems, securing local financing, and engaging the private sector, including plans to establish an AIDS Trust Fund.
These efforts will need to be expanded to reduce reliance on US aid in the future.
Thirdly, Nigeria, a major recipient of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), should develop parallel local programmes for HIV/AIDS, security, and agriculture to ensure continuity if US priorities shift due to political disputes or a change in administration. South Africa’s experience with aid cuts, such as reductions in PEPFAR funding, underscores the risk of relying on specific US-backed initiatives.
Lastly, Nigeria should maintain a balanced foreign policy, avoiding actions that might provoke US sanctions or aid cuts. The US has expressed discontent over South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice, where it accused Israel of genocide over its military offensive in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands and caused a humanitarian crisis.
When Trump signed the executive order targeting South Africa in February, the White House cited that case as an example of South Africa adopting positions contrary to Washington and its allies.
Therefore, to safeguard Nigeria’s interests, the Federal Government should pursue diplomatic neutrality until it can foster internal stability and reduce its reliance on conditional external support.
Background
Before Wednesday’s meeting, Trump claimed that white Afrikaner South African farmers were being slaughtered and forced off their land. The Afrikaners are descendants of mostly Dutch settlers who first arrived in South Africa in 1652.
A portion of the footage aired at the White House showed white crosses lined up along both sides of a road.
“Now this is very bad. These are burial sites right here. Burial sites—over a thousand—of white farmers,” Trump said.
Ramaphosa denied knowledge of the purported burial sites, responding, “Have they told you where that is, Mr President? I’d like to know where that is. Because this I’ve never seen.”
FURTHER READING
The meeting marked an escalation of the months-long conflict between the US and South Africa over claims that the latter is forcefully taking land from white Afrikaners through the recently signed Land Expropriation Act.
Watch our Video of the Week:
Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:
Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.
Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.
Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611
