America officially has a new President. Donald J. Trump. We’ve already discussed how and why he got there. His supporters are loving it. His detractors? Not so much. Whatever side you’re on, he’s the President and we all have to find ways to deal with it. As our leaders figure out how they will relate with America’s new President, here’re some things I hope Trump can deliver for Africa. Make Africa Great Again Yes Sir, MAGA applies to Africa too. Our Continent was once great. Before slavery, disease, corruption and war took over. Help us end all these unnecessary conflicts and make our nations work better for everyone. Build walls Not to keep people out. We need different kinds of walls: Hospitals, classrooms and related infrastructure across Africa. Mexico is not paying for your “beautiful wall” and neither should we. America is blessed. In fact, it is the world’s richest nation. Come on now, help us out. Please take Climate Change Seriously We heard you’re a Climate Change skeptic and that you intend to tear up the Paris Agreement ratified by at least 125 member countries of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Before you do that, please speak to some of our brilliant African environmentalists and scientists. You might get a different perspective. You’ve held interviews and meetings with hundreds of people at Trump Towers. Please make time for some of our agriculturalists too just so you get a clear picture of what droughts and floods do to farmers. You’re not one of those people who believe grains, fruit and vegetables magically appear in Supermarkets, are you? Fair trade We know your hands are full trying to renegotiate America’s Trade deals. Well, Africa does business with America too and if you think other countries take advantage of yours, know it’s worse for Africa. You often brag about being a great dealmaker and it’s in fact one of the reasons you got elected. You probably already know trade goes both ways but just in case you don’t, please remember that many “Made in America” goods are on our Supermarket shelves. Some are very expensive but we buy them so please reciprocate. It would be nice to have more Kenyan, Rwandan, Ugandan, Nigerian and South African products in your country too. Free Internet for everybody You seem to spend plenty of time on Social Media, which is a good thing because that means you appreciate its relevance and significance. Can you please do what you can to increase Internet accessibility across Africa? If for nothing else, just so we can read your Tweets. Last but not least Do something about Gambia. Several people have tried to delegitimize your victory so you of all people understand how upsetting that is, except that you are President now, unlike Gambia’s Adama Barrow who won last December’s Presidential Election but incumbent Yahya Jammeh won’t budge. There’s a lot you can do to ensure innocent civilians don’t lose their lives. Please don’t let Gambians down. With that, good luck for the next four years. You’ll need it!
