Cape Town – Archbishop Tabo McGoba, a well-known African religious leader, has announced an urgent appeal to the United States to save two programs essential to economic development and healthcare across the African continent.
In a passionate speech at a gala dinner in New York, South Africa’s Anglican leader warned that 2025 could become a “historic basin” of US-Africa relations as 2025 faces an uncertain future under the Trump administration.
“These are urgent and even hopeless for Africa, especially for relations with the US,” McGoba said. The Anglican Archbishop continued to talk about how economic inequality is shifting around the world…
“Like cancer… we threaten to eat our social compacts and devour our existence, everything that makes us human. We are facing Kairos’ moments, the turning point, for the human race.
“I was recently struggling with reading the transcript of an interview given by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk to podcaster Joe Logan. In an interview, Musk said, “The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy.” He also said he believes that “empathy is good,” but he continued to describe it as a “bug of Western civilization.”
“Compare Mr Musk’s words with the words of another South African (the honor of the late Archbishop). “The first law of our existence,” Archbishop Chutu said, “We are set in a sensitive network of interdependence with fellow humans, and a sensitive network with the rest of God’s creation. We are intended to live as sisters and brothers, as a family, a human family, and members of God’s family. We are created for peace, harmony, and unity. When we disregard that basic law, all sorts of things are horrifying and grossly wrong…”
McGoba appealed to Americans to “intervene” with public representatives by shutting down Pepfer and Agaia. This constitutes the most notable example of our generation of America’s empathy and compassion for the poor and vulnerable people of Africa.”
Pepfaal funds in danger
Founded in 2003 by President George W. Bush, Pepfer saved 26 million lives worldwide through treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS. The program’s approval expired on March 25th and its future remains uncertain, but health experts have warned that closing Pepfah could lead to catastrophe.
-192 million adults and children lose support for HIV treatment
-680,000 mothers lose service to prevent newborn HIV infection
– An additional 13.4 million AIDS-related deaths
-2.8 million new AIDS orphans
McGoba cited former President Bush’s previous warning that abandoning this commitment would “confiscate 20 years of unimaginable progress and raise further questions about the value of American language.”
Agoa is set to expire in September
At the same time, ADOA will close in September, offering tax-free US market access to approximately 2,000 products from eligible African countries. Trade experts are pessimistic about the update given President Donald Trump’s latest trade moves.
The program transforms US-Africa relations from aid dependency to a mutually beneficial business partnership. Daniel Lande, of Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies, warned that “if the Agaia ship sinks, its relationships with the United States and Africa.”
Trump’s tariffs and the African economy
McGoba used Lesotho as an example when talking about the potential impact of Trump’s “mutual tariffs” on the African economy. He said the 50% tariffs temporarily suspended would destroy the country’s economy.
“The only way Lesotho can escape mutual tariffs would be if they import goods from the US, which is equal to the value of their export to you. This is not possible,” McGoba said.
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Appeal to empathy
McGoba commented on South African-born billionaire Elon Musk as “sympathy is a bug in Western civilization.”
The leader emphasized that “economic activity is worthless unless we ensure human prosperity and all prosperity is guaranteed.”
Strategic Benefits
The archbishop’s appeal also mentioned the strategic interests of the United States, citing a newly appointed senior adviser to the State Department of Africa’s Massad Boulos statement that Trump’s approach to Africa is to pursue security interests while strengthening economic relations “through greater trade and investment.”
“The lives and livelihoods of millions of our sisters and brothers are at stake,” McGoba said, adding that with the growing population of over billions in Africa, the continent represents an increasingly important market for future generations of Americans.
