US-Africa Ties Need to Match Each Country’s Economic and Strategic Priorities
Nearly $80 billion in US–sub-Saharan African trade in 2025 has not ensured that US engagement matches the priorities of individual countries, argues Gift Iyioku. In a Hoover Institution analysis of relations with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Djibouti, Iyioku says the problem is not a lack of engagement but a mismatch in its emphasis: US policy should better connect commercial, security and diplomatic ties to each country’s circumstances, and build partnerships that are predictable and mutually beneficial.
Hoover Institution·Nov 2, 2026·3 min read