Africa is important to Trump, the American envoy tells BBC

Africa Senior Councilor for Africa Masad Bullos said President Donald Trump appreciates Africa, although he announced extensive abbreviations that caused significantly humanitarian suffering on the entire continent.

Trump has announced the freezing of aid on his first day of service in January in accordance with his foreign policy of America First, while Trump’s latest tariffs have sparked concerns from the end of the US -Africa trade deal, which aims to strengthen economic growth.

But G -n Bulos told BBC’s Newsday that Africa is “very important” to Trump and downplayed reports that the United States is planning to close some of their missions on the continent.

“He appreciates Africa and African people,” added G -n Bulos.

Reducing aid has affected health programs throughout Africa, including deliveries of critical medical supplies, including HIV medicines.

The bigger part of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) programs that provided health and humanitarian assistance to vulnerable countries, have been terminated sinceS

Eight countries – six of them in Africa, including Nigeria, Kenya and Lesoto – HIV medication may be leaked soon Following the US decision to pause foreign assistance, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned.

There are concerns that next year nearly six million Africans can be pushed into exceptional poverty after the cuts of aid, According to the Institute of Security Research (ISS) -Panfrican cerebral trust.

Eight people, including five children, died after walking for hours this month to seek the treatment of cholera in South Sudan after reducing the assistance of the Trump administration forcing local health clinics to close, the International Charity Rescue Children.

But Bulos said that those who report that death could not be directly related to the abbreviations of US assistance and said they were needed to ensure that the money was well used.

“It is absolutely necessary (for the US) to review some of these programs for much more efficiency and transparency,” said G -n Boulos.

“We have to make sure that (the means of help) go to the right place and that we are getting the desired result,” he added.

G -n Bulos, whose son is married to Trump’s daughter, Tiffany, said several US companies have expressed interest in exploiting minerals in a Democratic Republic after His recent trip to the resource -rich central African nationS

Dr. Congo, a home of huge natural reserves such as lithium, which is essential for the production of batteries and electric vehicles, fights the M23-supported rebels, which have seized large areas of territory this year.

President of Congoan Felix Tshiseked believes that US involvement in mineral extraction can help suppress violence, which has been struck by the eastern part of the country for nearly 30 years. At the moment the mineral wealth of the e -r Congo is dominated by Chinese companiesS

G -n Bulos said his country was also interested in a mineral survey in neighboring Rwanda, but urged the country to withdraw its troops from D -R Congo and suspend its support for M23. Rwanda denies participating in the conflict.

Asked if the United States is interested in benefiting from Africa economically, not its well -being, Bullos answered “Our job is to encourage US interests and to encourage our strategic partnerships.”

Trump has also been determined to “end the wars and to establish peace” around the world, the envoy said, pointing to the conflict in Sudan as a great concern for the US government.

Bulos, who has been a senior Washington adviser to Arabic and Middle Eastern Affairs from December, also visited Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda in his trip.

He has business interests in Africa, including in Nigeria -based company that distributes motor vehicles and equipment in West Africa.

The Lebanese -born businessman said Trump thinks it was time to end the “unfair advantage” taken by other international players in Africa.

In response to reports in the US media that the Trump administration plans to close the bigger part of its diplomatic missions in Africa, Bulos said it was “not very accurate”, adding: “Africa is very important for Trump.”

Regarding the trade rates announced by Trump, Mr Bullos said they had a “zero net effect” for most African countries when they touched “small retail volumes” from the continent.

“Many countries are arranged for negotiations and at the end of the day we want justice and winning,” he added.

The small South African country Lesoto was affected by the highest of the most recently announced tariffs – 50% – before pauses for 90 days.

He has used African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) To become a major exporter of textiles, including jeans in the United States. This trade represents more than 10% of Lesoto’s national income.

AGOA was created by former US President Bill Clinton in 2000 to promote trade and investment in Africa, but analysts are unlikely to be renewed by the current Republican -dominated congress.