5 major factors shaping positive views of America in Africa

Despite the fluctuating influence of foreign powers in Africa over recent years, the United States has managed to stabilize its presence in 2024, with 70% of African youth recognizing its impact.

This follows a dip from 78% in 2020 to 69% in 2022. While China leads slightly at 76%, the U.S. remains a key player in the region, with young Africans viewing it as one of the most significant external forces.

Looking ahead, there is an expectation among African youth that American political and business leaders like Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerburg, will be among the most impactful foreign leaders in Africa in the next five years.

Though positive perceptions of U.S. influence have climbed from 75% in 2022 to 79% in 2024, they still lag behind the high of 87% in 2020.

Nonetheless, nearly two-in-five African youth (38%) now view the US’s influence as ‘very positive’, primarily citing the provision of important loans and economic support.

Among the 21% of youth who hold a negative perception of U.S. involvement, concerns are primarily focused on the extraction of natural resources without fair compensation or benefit to local communities (36%).

Additionally, nearly a third are wary of U.S. interference in their domestic affairs (32%), while others see American investments as a form of economic colonialism (31%). Scepticism also stems from a belief that the U.S. lacks respect for local values and traditions (31%) and that American loans could burden their countries with long-term repayment challenges (29%).