Recent revelations from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have exposed evidence of systemic corruption, financial mismanagement, and hidden agendas of bureaucrats, revealing USAID's role in advancing self-serving US political and economic goals like securing access to critical natural resources and expanding its geopolitical footprint in the Global South. This is often done through Western non-governmental organizations, civil society groups, and their local collaborators. These issues not only raise eyebrows about the agency's efficiency and resource allocation but also highlight the urgent need for a shift toward more transparent, locally driven development strategies that prioritize the autonomy and needs of aid-recipient countries over foreign influence.
In a thought-provoking interview with African Currents, William Sakawa, senior correspondent at African Stream, delves into the far-reaching consequences of the Trump administration's decision to shut down USAID and explores how African countries can seize this opportunity to create an African-centric development model.
"USAID is a Trojan horse. In terms of how it has evolved? I don't think by much, really, because its original aim was to secure American interest, and it has done that very well, which is why it's been a shock to many people, actually, when Trump announced that he would basically shut down the agency [...]. Many African thinkers and policymakers argue that the African Union should take this moment to establish a more self-reliant pan-African aid model by pooling resources, increasing intra-African cooperation and prioritizing homegrown solutions," Sakawa expressed.
To find out what else our guest had to say, tune in to the African Currents podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
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