Africans across the continent followed the US
presidential election with keen interest. While some fear that a Trump
presidency could have disastrous consequences, others remain cautiously
optimistic.
Tanzania's President John Pombe Magufuli was one of the
first African leaders to congratulate Donald Trump on his election victory.
"Tanzanians and I assure you of continued friendship and
cooperation," he wrote on his Twitter account.
Burundi's controversial leader Pierre Nkurunziza - the
subject of intense US and international criticism for his decision to stay in
power beyond a constitutional two-term limit- followed suit. "Your victory
is the victory of all Americans," he wrote on Twitter.
Buzz
on social media
Social media platforms were abuzz with reactions just
moments after the poll results were out. DW's Kiswahili Facebook page showed
more than 500 comments just 15 minutes after the announcement.
"President-elect Donald Trump has emerged the
winner, but I fear for the future of the African countries and African
Americans in the US. His policies are not friendly to our countries,” wrote
Tanzanian Adam Ayo.
Others commended the US for the conduct of the polls.
"I salute Hillary Clinton for being so patriotic and accepting the
election results. That's true democracy," Methord Augustino wrote on the
same page.
Many African social media users also commented on the
Trump win on a lighter note, like this Kenyan user on Twitter.
'This is not what we wanted'
The election of Donald Trump also drew mixed reactions
in Nigeria which traditionally enjoys close ties with the US. Nigerian Nobel
laureate Wole Soyinka - a US resident- had announced before the polls that he
would "pack up" and leave the country if Trump was elected.
"This is not what we wanted, but we have no choice
but to accept fate," Ibrahim Karaye from northern Nigeria wrote on the
Facebook page of DW's Hausa service. "The deed is done. We await the
fulfillment of those promises he made to Americans," wrote Aboubakar
Roufai Filani-Maradi from neighboring Niger.
Experts were undecided if the Trump win will lead to a
change to US foreign policy towards Africa. Trump's announcement that he will
put American interests first could mean the end of US economic initiatives such
as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a scheme which gives
preferential treatment to exports from selected African countries to the United
States. The "Power Africa" program, initiated by incumbent president
Barack Obama, could also be at stake.
Trump cannot act alone
"Trump might change the focus of the Power Africa
program or other initiatives, but there is always change and continuity in
foreign policy," Ethiopian journalist Ananias Wori told a DW correspondent
at the US embassy in Addis Ababa where he followed the election night.
International relations lecturer Yakob Arsano from the
University of Addis Ababa pointed out that Trump would need the support of the
US Congress for any major change in foreign or development policy.
"America is an established political system which cannot be swayed by an
individual president," he told DW's correspondent at the same function.
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