Throughout the Atlantic, Africans even have a vested curiosity within the end result of the US election.
The newest polls present that the present vp and Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, has a slight, one-point lead, with Republican and former president, Donald Trump, a really shut second.
The election end result will carry a lot of implications on African economies provided that the US is without doubt one of the essential buying and selling companions.
On Tuesday 5 November, People will forged their votes to elect the forty seventh president of the US of America. The newest polls present that the present vp and Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, has a slight, one-point lead, with Republican and former president, Donald Trump, a really shut second. It is a neck-and-neck race with no sure end result, and the world waits to see who will lead the final world superpower from 2025 to 2029.
Throughout the Atlantic, Africans even have a vested curiosity within the election’s end result. Here’s what two political specialists from the North-West College (NWU) in South Africa need to say about what a Trump or Harris victory will imply for the continent.
Prof Kedibone Phago, director of the NWU’s College for Authorities Research states: “We’ve got already observed a number of of Donald Trump’s home and overseas coverage positions that largely prioritises the US throughout his earlier administration. He targeted his consideration on rising the US financial system. This additionally occurred towards a backdrop of a number of threats to scale back funding for worldwide our bodies such because the World Well being Group (WHO), North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), and comparable preparations. His deal with the US financial system, immigration, conflicts, and local weather change is predicted to be extra aggressive.”
Key points concerning Africa
There are not less than two key points to contemplate concerning Africa. The primary is the African Progress and Alternative Act (AGOA), a commerce settlement between African international locations and the US that enables duty-free entry to US markets. South Africa is a significant beneficiary, and its participation is essentially a lifeline for AGOA. Excluding South Africa from AGOA can be each meaningless and counterproductive, although a Trump presidency is likely to be anticipated to threaten this settlement.
Secondly, the US is without doubt one of the essential buying and selling companions for a lot of African international locations. A Trump presidency might imply that some African international locations’ geopolitical positioning could also be put below immense strain to both select pals and allies of the US to take care of beneficial and pleasant relations with the US.”
Kamala Harris is at the moment the vp representing the Democratic Celebration and is more likely to retain most insurance policies of the Biden administration. She has already visited Africa, projecting a constructive stance of her administration in the direction of the continent. She is predicted to assist the continuation of AGOA with eligible African states which can be benefiting from this settlement.”
Dr Sysman Motloung, Political and worldwide relations knowledgeable notes: “The 2024 US elections deal with points surrounding racism and sexism, with some alleging that Donald Trump embodies these values, versus the restoration of reproductive rights, together with abortion, championed by Kamala Harris. Trump has additionally been blamed for disrupting abortion rights within the US. Nevertheless, he claims to guard girls by addressing unlawful border crossings and crime.”
The US elections are a home affair, with each presidential candidates making sturdy statements to painting one another as unfit for the White Home. Kamala Harris describes Trump as ‘unhinged’, a ‘fascist’, a ‘Nazi’, and even compares him to Hitler, whereas Trump retorts by labelling Harris a fascist.
Take South Africa for example. For us South Africans observing this political discourse, it’s paying homage to native rhetoric, the place phrases like ‘rented black’, ‘anti-revolutionary’, and amasela (thieves) are generally used.
Equally, the Democratic Alliance typically calls on South Africans to ‘save’ the nation by voting the African Nationwide Congress out. On this vein, Harris urges People to ‘save the nation’ by voting Trump out. Such is the character of political battles.
Learn additionally: The US Congress proposes extending Agoa to 2041, protecting all African international locations
What US election means for African international locations
Relating to what it will imply for African international locations if Trump or Harris wins, the affect is minimal.
Once more, let’s have a look at South Africa as a degree of departure. US overseas coverage is mostly constant, and the US will stay dedicated to sustaining bilateral and commerce relations with South Africa. Army cooperation between the 2 international locations will proceed. Trump, if elected, wouldn’t push South Africa to reverse its abortion rights merely due to his stance on the difficulty inside the US.
The US presidency will nonetheless count on South Africa to handle the Monetary Motion Job Pressure (FATF) gray itemizing, and collaboration on combatting organised crime will persist. Different African international locations can count on the identical.
The US has a vested curiosity in making certain the US greenback maintains its standing because the world’s reserve forex. An in depth have a look at each candidates’ platforms reveals a major deal with home points, with little emphasis on overseas insurance policies that may negatively affect African international locations. In different phrases, life will go on, with a lot remaining the identical.”
Time will inform.
Evaluation by Bertie Jacobs from North-West College
