US Congresswoman, AU react to Trump axing African edtech programUS Congresswoman, AU react to Trump axing African edtech program

US President Donald Trump's latest move to dissolve the President's Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement has drawn criticism from the United States Congress and concern from the African Union (AU).

The 12-member council, established by former US President Joe Biden in 2023, was set to launch its Edtech Africa exchange program with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the US and with Kenyan universities in the third quarter of 2025. 

Its goal, among many other things, was to aid in bridging the digital divide in Africa with a $850,000 investment from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).    

African diaspora council dissolution stalls digital inclusion initiatives

US Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, a Democrat and representative for California who introduced the African Diaspora Council Act to save the advisory body, said the move was done without much thought. 

She underscored the administration's disregard for the importance of Africa's growth, which includes digital inclusion.

"Trump's decision to dissolve the President's Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement shows his shortsighted and colonial approach to an incredibly important continent. His decision restricts the [US'] ability to forge deeper, mutually beneficial connections with Africa," Kamlager-Dove told Connecting Africa.

Related:US-Kenya tech exchange aims to bridge digital gap, boost STEM education

US Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove. (Source: Courtesy of the office of Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove)

Trump's reasoning for dissolving the council was: "The previous administration has embedded deeply unpopular, inflationary, illegal and radical practices within every agency and office of the federal government."

China, Russia gain ground as US resets Africa tech initiative 

China is already a leader on the African continent offering intelligent healthcare systems, and has dozens of connectivity projects underway, as well as energy projects to address a power deficit that has delayed efforts to industrialize.

"In dismantling this advisory body, we are giving up one of our greatest assets in strengthening US-Africa ties and paving the way for our competitors to advance their own interests on the continent," Kamlager-Dove said, referencing China and other countries' influence on the continent. 

The council dissolution has resulted in the axing of the Edtech Africa exchange program which was due to launch in Kenya later this year. (Source: Illustration by Eden Harris)

As the United States navigates its relationship with Africa, the Trump administration's policy shifts also drew criticism from an American tech leader who works both on the continent and in HBCUs in the US.  

"We can be honest – the Trump administration is taking decisive steps to reset Biden-era programs, including the African diaspora council. This reset comes at a crucial time when both China and Russia are rapidly expanding their technological footprint across Africa," said Kevin Fomengia, the director of innovation and co-founder of Pathway Oz, a non-profit whose mission is to resolve community-based technological problems.

Related:Eswatini becomes first African nation to join Trump's anti-China 'Clean Network'

African Union calls for resilience amid US policy shifts

The AU's permanent representative to the US, ambassador Hilda Suka-Mafudze, said Trump's decision, which impacted the Edtech Africa program, was swift, but she has to respect it, hoping that he will reconsider US and Africa ties after further evaluation. 

"To me, the way I look at it, at the moment, is it's just a matter of time because this is a decision that this sovereign country has put forward. It's an instant kind of decision, but maybe within two or three months, the administration here [can] look into these issues on how the US relates to Africa," she said

"I would like to think there will be a turnaround," Suka-Mafudze added.

Despite the change in US-Africa relations, the continent's resilience and potential for self-strengthening remain a focal point for diplomatic leaders like Suka-Mafudze.

"All that is happening is a call for Africa and is an opportunity for Africa to strengthen itself … though it will be difficult and painful, I want to think that the administration will reconsider its stance," Suka-Mafudze told Connecting Africa. 

The "difficulty" of the administration's decisions will be felt by young tech leaders like Fomengia, who said the decision will hurt not just the continent but his company as well "as an American tech company doing business in Africa."

"We need more constructive dialogue that attracts investment and development, not less," he said. 

"American innovation in critical areas like small modular reactors could revolutionize Africa's energy landscape, while our expertise in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) can help protect and accelerate the growth of Africa's private sector," Fomengia added. 

As concerns about the US' diminishing role on the continent surface across the globe, Fomengia noted that Africa is becoming increasingly self-reliant, and many African countries are already partnering with other nations to achieve their connectivity goals. 

"The real concern here is America's long-term relationship with these countries. There are plenty of partners knocking on Africa's door, ready to do business, and America is at risk of losing [its] seat at the table," he said. 

Suka-Mafudze noted that the AU has an influential voice at the G20, with a permanent seat at the table, and a collaborative approach is important because African countries are coming together and making decisions as one.