By Bertie Jacobs
On Tuesday 5 November, Americans will cast their votes to elect the 47th president of the United States of America. The latest polls shows that the current vice president and Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, has a slight, one point lead, with Republican and former president, Donald Trump, a very close second. This is a neck and neck race with no certain outcome, and the world waits to see who will lead the last global superpower from 2025 to 2029.
Across the Atlantic, Africans also have a vested interest in the outcome of the election. Here is what two political experts from the North-West University (NWU) in South Africa have to say about what a Trump or Harris victory will mean for the continent.
Prof Kedibone Phago, director of the NWU’s School for Government Studies:
“We have already noticed several of Donald Trump’s domestic and foreign policy positions that largely prioritises the US during his previous administration. He focused his attention on growing the US economy. This also occurred against a backdrop of several threats to reduce funding for international bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), and similar arrangements. His focus on the US economy, immigration, conflicts, and climate change is expected to be more aggressive.
There are at least two key issues to consider regarding Africa. The first is the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a trade agreement between African countries and the US that allows duty-free access to US markets. South Africa is a major beneficiary, and its participation is largely a lifeline for AGOA. Excluding South Africa from AGOA would be both meaningless and counterproductive, though a Trump presidency might be expected to threaten this agreement.
Secondly, the US is one of the main trading partners for a number of African countries. A Trump presidency could mean that some African countryies’ geopolitical positioning may be put under immense pressure to either choose friends and allies of the US to maintain favourable and friendly relations with the US.”
Kamala Harris is currently the vice president representing the Democratic Party and is likely to retain most policies of the Biden administration. She has already visited Africa, projecting a positive stance of her administration towards the continent. She is expected to support the continuation of AGOA with eligible African states that are benefiting from this agreement.”
Dr Sysman Motloung, Political and international relations expert:
“The 2024 US elections focus on issues surrounding racism and sexism, with some alleging that Donald Trump embodies these values, versus the restoration of reproductive rights, including abortion, championed by Kamala Harris. Trump has also been blamed for disrupting abortion rights in the US. However, he claims to protect women by addressing illegal border crossings and crime.
The US elections are a domestic affair, with both presidential candidates making strong statements to portray each other as unfit for the White House. Kamala Harris describes Trump as ‘unhinged’, a ‘fascist’, a ‘Nazi’, and even compares him to Hitler, while Trump retorts by labelling Harris a fascist.
Take South Africa as an example. For us South Africans observing this political discourse, it’s reminiscent of local rhetoric, where terms like ‘rented black’, ‘anti-revolutionary’, and amasela (thieves) are commonly used. Similarly, the Democratic Alliance often calls on South Africans to ‘save’ the country by voting the African National Congress out. In this vein, Harris urges Americans to ‘save the country’ by voting Trump out. Such is the nature of political battles.
Regarding what it would mean for African countries if Trump or Harris wins, the impact is minimal.
Again, let’s look at South Africa as a point of departure. US foreign policy is generally consistent, and the US will remain committed to maintaining bilateral and trade relations with South Africa. Military cooperation between the two countries will continue. Trump, if elected, would not push South Africa to reverse its abortion rights simply because of his stance on the issue within the US. The US presidency will still expect South Africa to address the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey listing, and collaboration on combatting organised crime will persist. Other African countries can expect the same.
The US has a vested interest in ensuring the US dollar maintains its status as the world’s reserve currency. A close look at both candidates’ platforms reveals a primary focus on domestic issues, with little emphasis on foreign policies that might negatively impact African countries. In other words, life will go on, with much remaining the same.”
Time will tell.
Ni pano tuli…
The article dwells on “What impact will the US election have on South Africa” I wonder why we should be interested? Or perhaps we should since we have no homosexual rights and we are very good friends with China and Russia?
If Kamala wins then she’ll impose gay rights on the whole of Africa. If Trump wins, it’ll be difficult for illegal African immigrants.
Gay Rights is a personal Choice
Nothing to do with Governments or and certainly NOTHING to do with ones personal thoughts
@tikki. What personal choice are you talking about when children in grade 4 get taught about gay marriage and that gender is not biological. That the children can decide their sex when the reach puberty? Two years ago Karmala was here in Africa. What agenda did she come with? She was only subdued by the outspoken voices of church groups and traditionalist politicians. LGBTQ isn’t a personal choice there is a whole well funded system pushing for its imposition worldwide. Some rich elitists are playing “God” with LGBTQ, GMOs, Carbon trading, outlawing indigenous seeds, wanton privatisation accompanied by excessive tax exemptions etc. These are the new tools that being used to enslave Africa. Wake up!!
Dont talk about things you dont understand
Again I say lets those who are around in 75 years time discuss gay rights
Now Is not the time and sadly for some the closet is still their abode
CLIMATE CHANGE IS BOLLOCKS been going on for millions of years
Excessive tax exemptions Your own doing !!
We are slaves to our own
SORT YOURSELVES OUT AND LEAVE THE REST OF THE WORLD OUT OF IT
Trump doesn’t give a $hit about Africa, he doesn’t even know that there are Africans in America, and he never go to any $hit-hole African countries.
Who cares, we have our colonial master China to control us
What difference will it make…zero…time to learn to be self dependence unlike focusing on the US elections….time to stop depending on China….time to stop depending on Saudi Arabia
It doesn’t matter who wins in the US elections, Africa is in most cases disadvantaged.
They have forced capitalism on African countries so that their companies can evade paying meaningful taxes, send all profits out Africa and leave our governments surviving on unending IMF & wold bank loans because of high interest rates they charge us.
Does it matter really ????
For me the RED TIE IS IN OR OUT !!!
Wouldn’t Lusambo found hiding in the ceiling be more news worthy ??
OR more DIESEL Going up ??
OR Loadshedding getting worse
OR Barber shops Cheap ZESCO ??
Who ever wins Africa will not be affected as they have a fixed foreign policy.Africa has to
Continue with its struggle to survive.
Africa with all it’s resources must start standing on its own please.
Lets talk about you recommendation 75 Years further down the line
Africa would have been ruling the world if we had effective leaders, the only downside is that they say the leaders you have are a reflection of the citizens you have. Just imagine Lusambo was a leader in Zambia.The once strong Lusambo now doing kamubisha bisha in the ceiling.
EXACTLY !!!!
Is my 75 years down the line to conservative ????
Iwe Juju Remember HH was smoked out beneath his bed with teargas?
Lusambo is headed for HH’s post!
Nothing will change to better our lives… besides it is time we started to find ways to survive without looking to these people.
As we approach the pivotal U.S. elections on November 5, it is essential to consider not just the immediate outcomes but also the broader implications for governance worldwide. While the global interest in American politics is palpable, it is crucial to recognize the unique federal structure of the U.S. and its implications for political comparison. Many nations operate under centralized systems, which complicates direct parallels with the U.S. model that emphasizes state-level governance.
Moreover, the current election cycle has starkly illuminated the economic disparities that drive migration from less developed countries, underscoring the importance of stable governance as a catalyst for development. The concept of “swing states” reflects the nuanced dynamics of American electoral politics, a phenomenon not universally applicable to other political systems.
As we await the results, it is imperative that observers glean insights into the role of state governance in shaping national outcomes, which may serve as a valuable lesson for countries navigating their own political landscapes.
We us africans i think we should stop looking at America like its the “united state Empire of the world!!! they also come to our countries for a reason!! period so we shouldn’t be scared whatever the outcome of the election!! i mean we us african countries we should play tit for tat games as well we have depended for long on they shenanigans!! come on!! africa unit!!!
The quoted opinion is typically South African in that it makes vacuous generalisations based around South Africa only. Ati “the rest of Africa can expect the same”. As if SA is somehow the centre or leader of Africa, when in reality it is backward and sociopolitically severely damaged in many ways
I agree with that 100% . SA is a deeply unequal and violence ravaged country .A lot ,but not all, South Africans don’t even see themselves as part of Africa.
I hope NIL. It’s governments have been terrible to the developing world.
Why should she have only a one point lead over a daft guy like Trump? It just goes to show any fool can be in charge of nuclear bombs that can destroy our planet. It means Americans can’t discern madness from wisdom. The world could come crashing because there’s a fool in the white house
But this article is about South Africa. And not Africa. Where is the one written by a Zambian? You mean even simple articles as these , you people must always quote South Africa? No wonder they delela you ka? Atase! This is utter foolishness of a journalist.