Moghalu: Africa needs to chart its course… being sidelined by Trump necessary

Kingsley Moghalu, former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), says Africa must break away from dependence on the United States and chart its own course.

In an X post on Sunday, Moghalu said being “sidelined” by newly-inaugurated US President Donald Trump is exactly what the continent needs.

“We need to wake up and stop moaning about what Trump ‘means for Africa'”, he added.

“Africa needs to take its destiny into its own hands and chart its own course. Just tired of the ‘what Trump means for Africa’ discourse of dependency.”

According to a memo seen by CNN, the US state department has frozen nearly all foreign assistance worldwide, effective immediately.

The order threatens billions of dollars of funding from the state department and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for programmes worldwide, especially in Africa where multiple programmes targeting improved health, military aid, and democracy are ongoing.

Only Israel and Egypt were exempted.

The ban, which would be in place for 90 days, is intended to help the US re-evaluate how the programmes align with its interest, US media reports.

“Decisions whether to continue, modify, or terminate programs will be made following this review,” the memo stated, noting that such a review should be completed within 85 days.

Amid the pause in financial aid, Trump has also issued sweeping restrictions and changes to immigration policies in the US.

Moghalu’s call for African financial independence is part of a decades-long debate across the continent.

Some analysts agree that reduced reliance on the US is crucial for long-term development, while others argue that engaging with the US, despite its current policies, remains essential for addressing global challenges.