Africa: U.S. Ends Lifesaving Aid to Seven African Nations

AllAfrica

by info@allafrica.com (allAfrica)

February 24, 2026

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The Trump administration has announced the cancellation of humanitarian aid programs previously deemed lifesaving by the State Department, with seven African countries set to lose all U.S. assistance under this decision. The affected nations are Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Somalia, and Zimbabwe, where at least 6.2 million people currently face extreme or catastrophic conditions, according to the UN. This move, described as a "responsible exit," differs from earlier cuts in regions like Afghanistan and Yemen, which were justified due to concerns over terrorist activity diverting aid resources. Instead, an internal email obtained by *The Atlantic* reveals that the rationale for these latest cancellations is based on a perceived lack of alignment between humanitarian aid and U.S. national interests. This decision marks a significant shift in U.S. foreign aid strategy, with funding being redirected or entirely withdrawn from 16 African countries. While nine nations, including Ethiopia, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, will receive redirected assistance through a reworked arrangement with the United Nations, the seven countries losing all aid face an uncertain future. Aid organizations express skepticism about the availability of replacement funding, raising concerns about the impact on vulnerable populations already grappling with severe humanitarian crises. The scale of need in the affected countries is staggering, with millions relying on U.S. assistance to survive. The

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Originally published on AllAfrica on 2/24/2026