In 2015, then-Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta delivered a speech at the Pan-African Parliament, cautioning against the long-term dangers of development assistance. His words were both a warning and a call to action: “The future of our continent cannot be left to the good graces of outside interests,” he asserted. “Foreign aid, which often comes with terms and conditions that preclude progress, is not an acceptable basis for prosperity and freedom. It is time to give it up.” Today, his message is more relevant than ever, particularly in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and broader cuts to foreign aid budgets in countries such as France, Germany, and the UK.

While these cuts have caused alarm among Western development agencies, some African leaders and thinkers view them as an opportunity rather than a setback. Africa’s long-standing dependence on foreign aid has had profound economic and political consequences. As reliance on aid deepened over the decades, Africa’s share of global trade steadily declined, currently standing at less than 3%. National ambitions to build domestic industries and enhance regional economic integration have weakened. This reality raises an essential question: Could the decline of USAID and other foreign aid initiatives be the catalyst Africa needs to finally chart its own development path?

Foreign aid has long been justified on humanitarian grounds, yet it often acts as a double-edged sword. While it provides critical funding for health, education, and infrastructure, it also fosters dependency and limits economic autonomy. This is especially evident in African countries where official development assistance comprises a significant portion of gross national income. For instance, nations such as South Sudan, Somalia, and the Central African........

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