For Immediate Release
January 19, 2025
AFJN Urges President-Elect Donald Trump to Uphold America’s International Commitments and Support Africa’s Development
Washington, DC – On January 20, 2025, (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day) President-elect Donald Trump is expected to be sworn into the Office of the President of the United States (US) of America as the 47th President. Many in the African and immigrant communities have expressed concern around President Trump’s immigration priorities and global policies. Ahead of the Inauguration, Dr. Steven Nabieu Rogers, Executive Director of the Africa Faith and Justice Network (a Catholic nonprofit organization focused on US-Africa policies) issued the following statement, in the hope that President Trump will assuage some of these concerns during his Inaugural Address:
Dr. Steven Nabieu Rogers, Executive Director of the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN), and an expert in African political-economy made the following statement:
- “As President Trump prepares to take office, we urge the President to prioritize unity and cooperation. We join many Americans in calling for a renewed commitment to democracy and we echo Cardinal Pietro Parolin’s wise words, urging President Trump ‘to be the president for the whole country’ uniting the country towards shared goals.
- “As a global leader, it is crucial that the Trump Administration uphold America’s international commitments, particularly those related to climate action, human rights, and refugee protection (including Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), and maintain open US-Africa relations.
- “We urge the President to ensure that immigrant families are not torn apart through mass deportations and that all people are treated with dignity. What makes America great is the generosity of the American people.
- “The United States’ active participation and leadership in global organizations such as the United Nations, World, Bank, and International Monetary Fund is crucial. As a global leader, the US sets a powerful example, and its policies have significant economic, military and humanitarian implications worldwide, including programs like USAID, PEPFAR, TRIPS, and others.
- “Africa is disproportionately vulnerable to climate change. We therefore urge President Trump to reconsider withdrawing from the Paris Accord as such an action undermines progress in mitigating the impact on Africa’s vulnerable populations, exacerbating poverty, hunger, and displacement.
- “We also urge the US to adopt a more collaborative approach in Africa, one that prioritizes building strong relationships and demonstrating American values, rather than simply trying to counter the influence of other global powers.
- “The United States has held a long partnership with African nations on shared priorities including agriculture, peace and security, natural resources, and human capital. In light of these partnerships, AFJN hopes that the US will support ‘Africa’s Renaissance’ as envisioned in the African Union’s “Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want” to bolster the continent’s ability to solve problems independently and alongside the US.
- “We hope the President will collaborate with faith-based groups and organizations to foster a deeper understanding of how policy changes impact vulnerable communities, both here in the United States and across the world.”
Read Christopher Well’s “Cardinal Parolin offers best wishes to Trump on election victory” in Vatican News
Read the African Union’s “Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want”
The Africa Faith and Justice Network is a faith-based, non-partisan coalition of 32 US-based religious communities of men and women. Inspired by the Gospel and informed by Catholic Social Teaching, the Africa Faith and Justice Network seeks to educate and advocate for just Africa-US relations that empower Africans to be agents of their own destiny, thriving in a just and equitable society. www.afjn.org
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Available for Interview:
Dr. Steven Nabieu Rogers
director@afjn.org
Contact: Lydia Andrews, Communications Manager