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Democracy and stability in Africa: Why U.S. leadership still matters

December 19, 2025
A group of people sit in orange chairs in a circle inside a brightly lit room.
Boundary partners from the shared border areas of Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya gather for a small group discussion as part of a peacebuilding project in the area. Credit: Pact.

In a recent brief published by The Atlantic Council, Pact's Mason Ingram and Alysson Akiko Oakley, along with Jack Higgins, argue that despite the Trump administration's shift away from democracy assistance toward a "trade, not aid" approach in Africa, sustained U.S. support for democratic governance and stability remains essential to advancing both African progress and American interests. The brief also provides recommendations for the U.S. government, private philanthropy, and the private sector moving forward.

The brief is part of the Freedom and Prosperity Center’s “The future of democracy assistance” series, which analyzes the many complex challenges to democracy around the world and highlights actionable policies that promote democratic governance.

Read the full brief