In his recent remarks before the U.S. elections, historian and political commentator Niall Ferguson pointed out a critical disconnect between the Democratic Party’s leadership and the average American citizen.
He highlighted that key figures like Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi were out of touch with the pressing issues facing ordinary Americans, especially the economic strain caused by inflation.
Instead, the Democratic Party’s focus on policies such as abortion rights appealed only to a small segment of the population, leaving broader economic concerns unaddressed.
Ferguson’s analysis led him to predict a Trump victory, a prediction that materialized, and one that signals dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party’s approach. Trump’s re-election symbolizes, in part, the incompetence of the Democratic leadership to address the real concerns of the people.
While the Democratic Party presents itself as a force for progress and humanitarian values, figures like Malcolm X have long pointed out the hypocrisy within it.
For instance, Barack Obama’s administration was marked by a significant number of deportations, the expansion of drone warfare, and the destabilization of Libya—an African nation that had one of the most promising economies.
This hypocrisy, which Trump’s candidacy rejected, became one of the factors that made Trump appear more straightforward to many voters, even if he too serves U.S. institutional interests.
From an African perspective, Trump’s re-election offers little hope for direct benefits. Both U.S. political parties are tied to forms of colonialism—direct or indirect.
However, Trump’s leadership reflects the true and consistent nature of U.S. policy, which is often easier to predict than the more covert strategies of the Democratic Party.
The Democratic Party’s policies have largely empowered hypocrisy, both within the U.S. and across Africa.
Many African heads of state owe their positions to U.S. Democratic policies that have kept them aligned with Western agendas.
These leaders, often unable to craft independent solutions for Africa’s challenges, have relied on the rhetoric and priorities set by the U.S.
With Trump in power, there may be a shift. The incompetence of Africa’s political elite, often shielded under Democratic Party diplomacy, can now be exposed.
This creates an opportunity for African revolutionaries and parties like the African Continental Unity Party (ACUP) to leverage this contradiction.
The predictability of Trump’s U.S. policy could be advantageous for movements advocating for African self-determination and the rapid reconstruction of the continent. By drawing attention to the failure of African leaders to creatively address the continent’s needs, the ACUP can position itself as a credible force for change amid this shifting geopolitical landscape.
In conclusion, while Trump’s return to the White House does not promise direct support for Africa, it could trigger a much-needed realignment. The ACUP and other African revolutionaries should seize this moment to highlight the need for true African independence and continental sovereignty, free from the hypocritical policies that have long stifled progress.
Kwame Gonza is a Pan-Africanist member of the African Continental Unity Party-ACUP, and architect of the African Railway Triangle Network Master Plan (ARTNMP).
