The Two Africas
President Donald Trump told a group of African leaders that the United States would shift from aid to trade, and Washington began closing USAID while many U.S. allies cut their own aid programs in Africa. International business interest in Africa is growing, driven by critical mineral reserves, a young workforce, a growing consumer base, and ports on vital global trade routes, with competition among China, the United States, Europe, India, and the Gulf states. Roughly half of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies are likely to be African this year, but gains will not be distributed evenly, and countries that attract sustained outside investment could follow the industrialization models of Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.
Why it matters: This article illustrates the briefing's theme of critical minerals, as foreign powers compete for Africa's reserves while the United States shifts from aid to trade.