Ndiho Media,LLC.

By Ndiho Media

As Washington sharpens its global strategy, Africa is feeling the shift — and not always for the better.

In a wide-ranging interview with Ndiho Media, Michael Walsh, a visiting researcher at the University of Granada in southern Spain, unpacks how U.S. foreign policy toward Africa is evolving under the Trump administration. From Senate hearings to sweeping visa bans and energy politics, Africa’s place on the U.S. agenda is changing fast.

Senate Priorities: From Health to Hegemony

According to Walsh, while the level of engagement by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hasn’t dropped, the focus has. “Under Senator Cory Booker, global health, human rights, and democratic governance were front and center,” Walsh said. “Now, under Senator Ted Cruz, the top priority is countering China, followed by energy security and access to critical minerals.”

That means less funding for development aid and a greater push for deals. “The mantra is trade, not aid,” Walsh explained. “If it doesn’t serve a strategic U.S. interest, it’s off the table.”

Visa Bans: Policy or Politics?

Over 30 African countries have been affected by recent U.S. visa bans. The rationale? A mix of national security concerns and immigration enforcement. “Some of the justifications include terrorism, poor vetting, or high visa overstay rates,” Walsh told Ndiho Media. “But when you look at the data, the bans are inconsistently applied. It’s confusing and, frankly, undermines U.S. credibility.”

Walsh believes Congress needs to step in. “We need a clear statutory framework. Right now, it’s too discretionary — we don’t even know who’s making the final calls.”

Energy, Influence, and What’s Next

On the energy front, countries such as Angola, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are key targets for investment. “The U.S. wants reliable access to resources — oil, gas, rare earth minerals — but it also wants to outcompete China in these markets,” Walsh said. “That’s why they’re willing to underwrite private investment risk to get a foothold.”

But the bigger picture? A global power realignment. “We’re witnessing the U.S. rethinking its role in multilateral institutions, from the UN to the IAEA. They’re reviewing everything,” he added.

Final Thought

“The administration believes the old model of aid dependency didn’t work,” Walsh concluded. “But by pulling back without a replacement, the U.S. could be creating a vacuum — and others are more than willing to fill it.”