What will the US election outcome mean for Africa?

The importance of the outcome of the US elections on the African continent has been minimally highlighted in both discussion spaces and debates.

For several countries on the continent, some heavily dependent on trade with the US, the performance of their currencies will ultimately be determined by expectations of US interest rates and the sentiment towards emerging markets and commodity prices, according to investment strategists.

Speaking to Africanews, New Jersey- based affiliate of the Economics Department at Princeton University, Professor Leonard Wantchekon has a dim view of Donald Trump’s possible victory.

“The country that will be more affected in this current election is the country that trades witH us most. It it went for Trump as opposed to Clinton will be the country that trades with US much more like South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal. And obviously North Africa as well because is anti-Muslim stance will affect relationship between the US and North Africa.”

The aid factor

Perhaps the single most important thing that The U.S. is very vocal about is aid, which it says is an important part of its engagements efforts in Africa. Aid policy has been central to President Barack Obama’s administrations with varying levels on success in various regions of the continent.

Changing landscape

Africans are however saying the tide has to change- that the continent needs a new kind of partnership. Investing in Africa’s greatest resource- its people- is the new language, practically dealing with root causes of poverty and supporting, rather than dictating to Africans on issues of good governance and economic advancement.

Both presidential candidates have made very little mention of policies that have to do with Africa, making mention rather of a change in trade policies with power houses such as China. The African region probably has been seen to remain secondary in terms of US interests relative to other regions in the world such as Asia or South America.