President Donald Trump's recent executive order has sparked concerns about the potential impact on African countries that heavily rely on US humanitarian aid. The order, which suspends all US foreign assistance programs for 90 days, aims to review their alignment with Trump's policy goals. However, experts warn that the long-term implications of this policy could leave African nations struggling to maintain essential services, address humanitarian needs, and support development projects.

The US provided approximately $6.6 billion in humanitarian assistance to sub-Saharan Africa in 2024, making it a significant contributor to the region's development. However, Trump's order raises concerns about the impact on African countries that are heavily dependent on US aid. Countries like South Sudan, DR Congo, and Somalia, which are already dealing with severe humanitarian crises, including famine and displacement, may lose vital support.

The review period will assess whether US foreign assistance programs align with Trump's policy objectives, potentially leading to changes or cessation of aid to certain countries or programs. While the immediate impact of the order on assistance levels is uncertain, experts warn that Africa's drought and famine crises could worsen, triggering increased migration to Europe and heightened support for extremist groups.

African nations currently face numerous challenges that are being mitigated with US aid. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), nearly 282 million people in Africa (20% of the population) were undernourished in 2022, an increase of 57 million since the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 868 million people faced moderate to severe food insecurity, with over one-third (342 million) experiencing severe food insecurity.

The humanitarian crisis in the DRC, fueled by ongoing conflict, human rights violations, and gender-based violence, has displaced 7 million people internally and over 1 million refugees seeking asylum in neighboring countries. Additionally, the DRC hosts over half a million refugees from neighboring countries. The US has supported African military forces through various programs and partnerships aimed at enhancing security, counterterrorism capabilities, and regional stability.

In the health sector, the US has been a long-term supporter of African countries through multiple programs run mainly by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US Department of State. With a total annual budget of around $8 billion of aid per year for the African continent, 70% of this, or around $5.6 billion, is dedicated to health sector programs. However, US aid to Africa, currently about $8 billion annually, could face cuts under Trump, especially programs like PEPFAR (the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), which forms a significant part of US aid.

Vaccine programs, HIV/AIDS programs, and reproductive health programs are among those at risk. While analysts have suggested Africa could turn to China if US aid stops, China's involvement is mainly economically driven, focusing on infrastructure and trade. If US aid ceases, Africa may need to seek support from diverse partners, including regional powers, multilateral organizations, and NGOs, to address pressing health, security, and governance challenges.

African nations could also face a significant setback in addressing these critical challenges, leading to even greater instability and hardship. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how African countries will adapt to the potential reduction in US aid and what alternative sources of support they will turn to.