The US presidential duo Musk and Trump thought they were punishing African nations when they cut USAID. But here is the thing: It’s actually a blessing in disguise and will help to cut off that unhealthy umbilical cord called “humanitarian aid in Africa,” which is often a dependency that keeps some African nations in constant poverty.
During an interview with Al-Jazeera, former ambassador of the African Union to the United States, Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, claimed that the real reason USAID and other NGOs are in Africa is to “constantly destabilize governments.”
Excerpts from the Al-Jazeera Interview
On the Role of USAID and NGOs:
“We need to understand the real reason why USAID is in Africa. And not just USAID but other NGOs. You look at DFID(Department for International Development) and many other smaller ones. Their sole purpose is to act as if they’re coming to rescue Africa. They are coming to fill in the gaps in government services, gaps in education, gaps in healthcare, gaps in humanitarian services. They are coming in the guise of addressing issues to do with human rights, issues to do with environmental protection and social justice. They are coming in claiming that they are introducing grassroots initiatives that are going to help the people. And so they use that as a way to go into the most remote parts of Africa. They are talking about government advocacy. When you look at it on paper, it all looks really good but they are actually wolf in sheep’s clothing. They are using that open access, sounding humanitarian, to constantly destabilize governments.
I can tell you right now that the majority of African leaders, and not just African leaders, but leaders in the developing world are celebrating the exit of USAID. I was listening to a program, I believe it was CNN, and I was jumping up and down. It was a government official from Hungary. He was echoing the same sentiments. He said they are happy USAID is leaving Hungary, because they are always supporting opposition. Their form of government advocacy is supporting whoever can keep the government in a turmoil.”
To be honest, I was surprised to learn that the majority of African leaders were happy about the exit of USAID. For a second, I thought they’d complain…
On USAID’s “Meddling Agenda”:
Dr. Chihombori-Quao goes on to say that USAID is a “major meddling agenda”:
“Major meddling agenda. The majority of some of the workers, now the average USAID worker may not realize it, but quite a few of them are also operatives, who are underground. And their major agenda is to destabilize governments, destabilize countries. If you think about it, their sole purpose, for example, filling in the gaps in healthcare and education, where is the change? Show me one country that USAID was in and education improved? Show me one country that USAID was in and healthcare improved. The social services they are bringing, it’s peanuts. The American taxpayer needs to know[that] the billion of dollars that are being given to USAID [that] a fraction is making it to the people.”
On HIV/AIDS and GMOs:
“Just look at what HIV/AIDS was used to do. We know of a program that was run out of South Africa where they actually were injecting people with the virus. The reason some of the AIDS virus spread as rapidly as it did in southern Africa. There were some very dirty games being played on African people. They were using Africans as guinea pigs for experimental activities. Even when you look at every aspect, they are using us as guinea pigs. Yes, there was some good, a percentage of some good but not all of it is done with good intentions. You look at agriculture. They’re destroying African culture by introducing those GMOs. You plant your seed in one season, your soil is finished. We used to have seeds that we can use from one season to the other. The introduction of GMOs through this agencies, USAID is one of them. We are destroying Africa in a massive way. A little good is coming out but by large, the end result, they mean no good.
They can turn around and give us an inventory and say, as long as you have been in Africa and also other parts of the world, show us your success rate. You claim you’re helping governments with education and healthcare, show us your success rate but, I also turn around and say: African governments, why do you need this little aid to assist you in providing proper healthcare, proper education. The average African government can afford to provide those services for their people.”
Dr. Chihombori-Quao concludes:
“Africa does not need aid. What we need is for those who exploit Africa to stop.”
Here’s hoping the African continent, with its young and vibrant population, continues to prosper without outside interference.
