This is a great write-up, thank you for highlighting these developments!
One other section I’d point you to is on proposed regional priorities for sub-Saharan Africa (p219 of the linked PDF). The primary focus is on countering Chinese influence on the continent, followed by engagement on counter-terrorism. I would highlight two further points:
First, Project 2025 suggests shifting aid from “stand-alone humanitarian development aid” and towards growth-based programs. By “growth,” they mean “fostering free market systems in African countries by incentivizing and facilitating U.S. private sector engagement in these countries” and not the same things as the Open Phil growth focus area. But worth keeping an eye on.
Second, the document specifically recommends “the recognition of Somaliland statehood as a hedge against the U.S.’s deteriorating position in Djibouti.” Somaliland is a de facto independent country, but not internationally recognized. It receives negligible amounts of Official Development Aid, as aid is directed to the official Somalian government in Mogadishu. “When There Was No Aid” by Sarah Phillips is an excellent account of how Somaliland and its economy has evolved outside of the universe of foreign aid; Ken Opalo makes an argument for approaching recognition (and aid) carefully. I have a lot more thoughts about Somaliland; recognition from the US would be a really big deal for the region.
This is a great write-up, thank you for highlighting these developments!
One other section I’d point you to is on proposed regional priorities for sub-Saharan Africa (p219 of the linked PDF). The primary focus is on countering Chinese influence on the continent, followed by engagement on counter-terrorism. I would highlight two further points:
First, Project 2025 suggests shifting aid from “stand-alone humanitarian development aid” and towards growth-based programs. By “growth,” they mean “fostering free market systems in African countries by incentivizing and facilitating U.S. private sector engagement in these countries” and not the same things as the Open Phil growth focus area. But worth keeping an eye on.
Second, the document specifically recommends “the recognition of Somaliland statehood as a hedge against the U.S.’s deteriorating position in Djibouti.” Somaliland is a de facto independent country, but not internationally recognized. It receives negligible amounts of Official Development Aid, as aid is directed to the official Somalian government in Mogadishu. “When There Was No Aid” by Sarah Phillips is an excellent account of how Somaliland and its economy has evolved outside of the universe of foreign aid; Ken Opalo makes an argument for approaching recognition (and aid) carefully. I have a lot more thoughts about Somaliland; recognition from the US would be a really big deal for the region.