Head of US Africa bureau urges staff to highlight US ‘generosity’ despite aid cuts

A leaked email from the new head of the US State Department's Bureau of African Affairs, Nick Checker, instructed staff to aggressively highlight American "generosity" in Africa. The email, sent in January, urges diplomats to counter narratives suggesting the US isn't a major donor, aiming to leverage aid to advance US interests. This directive follows the Trump administration's shift toward a more transactional foreign policy, prioritizing trade and investment over aid in Africa. The email also characterizes Africa as a "peripheral" theater for US interests, advocating for "strategic economy" and focusing on opportunities like conflict resolution and investment in minerals and energy. The email has been criticized by some as "offensive and downright racist" and against US national security interests.

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