The administration of Donald Trump (2017–2021) marked a period of heightened tensions and shifting alliances in global geopolitics, particularly in the Middle East and Africa. During this time, African nations grew increasingly wary of the close relationship between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States, as well as the UAE’s expanding influence across the African continent. Many African countries, already concerned about foreign interference in their internal affairs, viewed the UAE’s actions as an extension of Western interests, creating deep-seated suspicion and adding to their growing paranoia about the Emirates' role on the continent.
This article explores how the Trump administration's policies and the UAE's regional activities reinforced these fears, ultimately contributing to strained relationships between the UAE and various African nations.
1. The UAE’s Role as a U.S. Proxy in Africa
The UAE has long been a close ally of the United States, especially under Donald Trump's administration. The Trump administration’s foreign policy towards the Middle East emphasized building stronger alliances with Gulf states, including the UAE, as part of its broader regional strategy. This alignment was clearly demonstrated in initiatives such as the Abraham Accords, which the UAE spearheaded by normalizing relations with Israel, a move that was heavily endorsed by the Trump administration.
For many African countries, the UAE’s role in supporting U.S. objectives in the Middle East raised alarms, as it suggested that the UAE was acting as a proxy for Western interests. The Trump administration's approach, particularly its focus on countering Iranian influence and expanding U.S. economic interests, often placed the UAE in the role of enforcing these policies on the ground. Given Africa's history with Western imperialism and interference, this dynamic made several African nations more suspicious of the UAE’s intentions.
Countries like Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia were particularly concerned about the UAE's growing influence in the Horn of Africa, a region with immense strategic value due to its proximity to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The UAE’s military presence in Eritrea, Djibouti, and Somalia, facilitated by the Trump administration's broader regional goals, was seen as a clear example of Western-backed meddling in Africa's affairs.
2. UAE’s Military Involvement in African Conflicts
One of the most significant sources of African paranoia toward the UAE was its increasing military involvement in conflicts on the continent, often in alignment with U.S. interests. Under the Trump administration, the UAE was a key player in the conflict in Libya. The UAE supported Khalifa Haftar, a Libyan warlord, providing him with arms, funding, and military expertise in his fight against the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli. Although the United States did not directly intervene in the conflict, the Trump administration tacitly supported Haftar’s forces, especially in the early stages.
For many African countries, the UAE's involvement in Libya was seen as another example of Gulf states, backed by Western powers, interfering in African affairs to pursue their own geopolitical interests. The perception was that the UAE’s actions in Libya were driven by a desire to secure strategic influence in North Africa and secure access to the country’s vast oil reserves, a move that many African leaders viewed as self-serving.
Moreover, the UAE’s role in Libya was seen as part of a broader strategy to maintain control over the Mediterranean and North African region, further stoking fears that the Emirates was acting on behalf of Western, particularly U.S., interests. The Trump administration’s lack of direct involvement, coupled with its endorsement of UAE activities, only added to African nations’ distrust.
3. UAE's Growing Economic Influence in Africa
During the Trump administration, the UAE also expanded its economic footprint across Africa. From ports to logistics, agriculture to mining, the UAE deepened its investments in key African sectors, often in countries with significant geopolitical importance. While on the surface, this could be viewed as a positive development for economic growth, many African countries saw it differently.
For some African governments, the UAE’s investments were viewed as a neocolonial strategy designed to control African resources and infrastructure. African leaders were particularly concerned about the fact that many of these deals were accompanied by military or political influence, further linking the UAE’s economic engagement to its geopolitical ambitions. This perception was exacerbated by the Trump administration’s emphasis on economic nationalism and the belief that countries like the UAE were acting as intermediaries for U.S. businesses in Africa.
In Djibouti, for example, the UAE became involved in a high-profile dispute over the management of the Doraleh Container Terminal, which was seen as part of the UAE’s broader strategy to control ports along the Horn of Africa and extend its economic and political influence across the region. The fact that the UAE's actions appeared to align with U.S. strategic interests further deepened the distrust of African countries toward both the UAE and the Trump administration.
4. The UAE’s Role in Regional Diplomacy and Security
Another contributing factor to African paranoia was the UAE’s growing role in regional diplomacy and security. Under Trump’s administration, the UAE took an increasingly active role in mediating conflic
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