African Leaders React to Donald Trump’s Election

In a statement, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu applauded the American people for their commitment to democracy. “President Bola Tinubu believes that, given President Trump's experience as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021, his return to the White House as the 47th president will usher in an era of earnest, beneficial, and reciprocal economic and development partnerships between Africa and the United States,” the statement reads.

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema echoes this sentiment, stating on X , “This historic achievement demonstrates the people’s freedom to choose their leaders. We look forward to strengthening our bilateral cooperation & deepening our ties.”

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI sent a message of congratulations to Trump, reaffirming the historic importance of their alliance, especially in light of the last Trump administration’s recognition of the Kingdom of Morocco’s full sovereignty over its entire territory in the contested region of Western Sahara.

South Africa’s Cyril Ramaposa extended his congratulations to the American president-elect, sharing on X that “In the global arena, [South Africa] look[s] forward to our Presidency of the G20 in 2025, where we will work closely with the U.S. on who will succeed us in the G20 Presidency in 2026.

Egypt’s Abdelfattah Elsisi also took to X to say that he looks forward to “reaching peace together.” “The two countries have always presented a model of cooperation and succeeded together in achieving the common interests of the two friendly countries, which we look forward to continuing in these critical circumstances the world is going through,” the Egyptian president added.

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame also congratulated Trump on his “historic and decisive” election. “Your clear message has been that the United States should be a partner of choice that attracts by the force of its example, rather than by imposing its views and ways of life on others,” Kagame said in a statement on X. “I therefore look forward to working with you for the common benefit of both our countries in the years ahead,” he added.

In his campaign, Trump promised that upon election, he would commence the largest deportation of immigrants in American history, place new tariffs on imports, freeze climate-related regulations, overhaul federal health agencies and bring about ideological changes in the education system.