No EU Lifeline: Africa Forced to Find Alternatives After USAID Cuts

The European Union has stated it cannot make up the shortfall caused by the US’s suspension of aid across sub-Saharan Africa. Although the EU remains committed to its own humanitarian programs, officials admit that the scale of the deficit—left by the Trump administration’s 90-day halt of USAID spending—far exceeds their capacity to respond. This abrupt freeze has already forced the closure of HIV clinics, immunization efforts, and reproductive health programs in countries like Uganda, Nigeria, and Kenya, putting millions of lives at risk. In response, some African governments are scrambling to fill budget gaps, with Nigeria allocating $200 million in its 2025 budget. Observers stress that this crisis requires coalition-building among traditional donors, multilateral lenders, philanthropic bodies, and middle-income nations. Yet analysts warn that lower-income countries remain especially vulnerable, lacking the fiscal resources to replace American aid.

Source: SEMAFOR