MR TRUMP, your inauguration speech is a profound testament to the aspirations of a nation striving to reclaim its pinnacle. You speak of liberty, prosperity and a relentless pursuit of excellence as the lifeblood of your administration. But as an observer from the Global South, I must remind you that these desires are not uniquely American.
The dreams you articulate are universal. The yearning for dignity, sovereignty and self-determination beats in the hearts of people in Harare, Lagos, São Paulo, Moscow and Beijing, just as much as it does in Detroit or Dallas. Your speech emphasises the restoration of dignity and strength to your people. This is a noble cause, one every leader should champion. Yet, dignity cannot be restored in isolation. The dignity of one nation must not come at the cost of another — your candle does not shine any brighter because you have extinguished everybody else’s! You call for “…moving with purpose and speed to bring back hope, prosperity, safety and peace”.
If America is to become a nation worth respecting it must first reckon with the shadows of its past interventions, its economic policies and its role in perpetuating systems of inequality as well as the terrible genocides. Your speech speaks of courage, vigour and the vitality of history’s greatest civilisation. We, too, possess courage.
We, too, draw vigour from the wells of our ancestors who resisted colonisation, who fought for independence and who envisioned a future where our children could thrive. But courage alone is not enough when the scales of global power remain tipped against us. You declare: “As we liberate our nation, we will lead it to new heights of victory and success.” Liberation is indeed the cornerstone of progress, but it must be universal.
The Global South has long awaited its full liberation, not just from political domination but from economic subjugation and cultural erasure. Beautiful dreams are not confined to the borders of the US; they are the birthright of all humanity. The promises of globalisation have fallen short for us. While markets have opened, opportunities remain closed. While goods and capital flow freely across borders, people do not. When we seek to join the great adventure of global innovation and prosperity, we are met with barriers both literal and metaphorical.
The world today is no longer the stage it was when America emerged as a singular, dominant force after the Second World War. Mr President, the era of a unipolar world is over. Nations like Russia, China, India and Brazil have come into their own, asserting their place as pillars of a new global order. The US is no longer the unchallenged ‘Big Brother’ it once claimed to be, and it never will be again. This reality is not a cause for lament but an opportunity to reimagine global leadership as a shared endeavour, rooted in mutual respect and co-operation. Your speech invokes the pioneering spirit that transformed America into a mighty republic. You invoke the spirit of explorers and pioneers, the call of the next great adventure.
Africa, too, stands on the brink of a great frontier. We are a continent of untapped potential, with a young and dynamic population, vast natural resources and a rich cultural heritage. We are builders, innovators, and entrepreneurs in our own right. We seek to redefine our place in the world, to shed the label of ‘developing’ and emerge as equal participants in the global arena. This requires not charity but partnership; not aid but trade; not paternalism but respect.
Mr Trump, the frontier spirit you celebrate has been reignited in places far beyond America’s borders. In Shanghai, futuristic skyscrapers challenge the horizon; in Moscow, global diplomacy and military strategies are recalibrated for the 21st century; while in Brasília, Brazil’s ambitions for regional leadership signals a desire to shape the future, not merely respond to it. These nations no longer see themselves as subordinate players in a global hierarchy, they are architects of a multipolar world. While the US once dictated the rules of global engagement, these emerging powers are now co-writing those rules. They are building alternative trade routes, establishing new financial institutions, and challenging old narratives about who gets to lead and who must follow. The Belt and Road Initiative, spearheaded by China, is a vivid example of this shift.
It is a vision of connectivity that spans continents, creating a vast network of partnerships independent of Western approval. Russia, with its resources and geopolitical influence, is redefining the contours of global power, asserting itself in spheres once dominated by the US. Meanwhile, nations in the Global South, from Africa to Latin America, are embracing these opportunities, diversifying partnerships and seeking alternatives to a global system that has often failed to serve their interests. Mr Trump, you declare that ambition is the lifeblood of a great nation, and you are correct. But ambition is no longer the monopoly of any one country. In Africa, Asia and Latin America, we have embraced ambition as the currency of our future. We see the world not as a chessboard to be dominated but as a shared space where prosperity must be inclusive. The unipolar era that allowed a single nation to act as the self-appointed steward of global affairs came at great cost to others. For decades, America’s economic policies, military interventions and cultural dominance were justified under the guise of leadership. But leadership must be earned, not imposed.
The world remembers the missteps; from the interventions that destabilised regions, the trade agreements that deepened inequalities, to the ideologies that dismissed alternative paths to development. Today, nations in the Global South look inward and to one another. They recognise that the era of looking to the West for solutions is over. Regional alliances like BRICS+ (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) demonstrate this shift. These nations are charting their own course, fostering economic cooperation and advocating reform in global institutions. This is not rebellion but evolution—a necessary correction to a skewed world order.
Mr Trump, your speech paints a picture of a strong and prosperous America reclaiming its destiny. But in a multipolar world, destiny must be shared. The US can no longer position itself as a ‘Big Brother’ to nations whose maturity and agency demand respect. The concept of American exceptionalism, while inspiring at home, alienates abroad. Nations today demand partnerships, not paternalism. You speak of ‘carrying your flag into new and beautiful horizons’. But consider this: a flag that flies alone cannot represent the collective aspirations of humanity. The US must adapt to a reality where power is distributed, not concentrated.
America — no one will stop it — can be a first among equals, a collaborator in solving global challenges, and a partner in progress. But to do so, it must relinquish the illusion of sole leadership; if you do not do so then you shall realise that impossible is real: “I stand before you now as proof that you should never believe that something is impossible to do.
In America, the impossible is what we do best”. Bullying us is going to be impossible. In Africa, the spirit of ambition burns brightly. We are a continent of young innovators, resilient entrepreneurs and visionary leaders. Our cities pulse with energy, our people possess untapped potential, and our land brims with resources. Yet, for decades, our aspirations have been constrained by a global system that favours the powerful. You pledge to “… defend your country from threats and invasions…,”, this is your right as a leader. But consider this: in the Global South, the greatest invasions are not by armies but by systems. Systems that strip our nations of their wealth through unfair trade and exploitation of our labour. We have learned, however, that waiting for salvation from the Global North is futile. Africa is taking ownership of its future.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a bold step towards economic integration, creating a single market of over a billion people. Our partnerships are diversifying, with nations like China investing in infrastructure and trade, while India and Brazil engage in cultural and economic exchanges. We are not rejecting the West, but we are no longer beholden to it. The US must recognise this shift, not as a threat but as an opportunity, if you must. A prosperous Africa benefits the world. A thriving Global South ensures stability, innovation and progress on a global scale. Mr Trump, you emphasise the importance of defending your nation against threats and invasions, but what the Global South seeks to defend against are not armies but systems — economic systems that exploit, political systems you seek to impose, and cultural systems you want to force on us. The unipolar era allowed a single narrative to dominate: that development must mirror Western industrialisation, that democracy must follow a prescribed model, and that markets must conform to neoliberal orthodoxy. This narrative is being rewritten.
Nations are reclaiming their agency, crafting paths that reflect their histories, cultures and priorities. The US, if it is to remain relevant in this new era, must listen. It must engage not as an overlord but as a partner, willing to learn as well as lead. The age of American exceptionalism, where one nation dictated the terms of progress, is over. What follows is an era of collective growth, shared responsibility and mutual respect. Mr Trump, your speech is a rallying cry for a proud and prosperous America but as the world transitions to a multipolar reality, America’s greatness will no longer be measured by its ability to dominate but maybe by its willingness to collaborate. The nations of the Global South do not seek to diminish America; we seek to rise alongside it.
Our ambition does not negate yours. Together, we must address the pressing challenges of our time: climate change, inequality and global security. The unipolar world is gone. What remains is an opportunity to build a world where every nation, every culture and every individual can thrive. You evoke the memory of American pioneers, builders and explorers who developed the ‘great’ America. This narrative, while inspiring, strikes a chord of bittersweet desonance for us. For Africa, the story of colonisation is one not of pioneers but of conquerors. It is a story of lands divided by arbitrary borders, economies designed to extract wealth rather than create it, and cultures demeaned under the guise of ‘civilising missions’.
The Global South has been the arena of resource extraction for centuries. Our nations, rich in gold, diamonds, oil and human potential, were stripped of wealth to fuel the ambitions of others. Today, we grapple with the remnants of this exploitation, a global economic system that demands our raw materials while offering little in return. We see a world where the prosperity you envision for your people often depends on the labour and our resources.
Mr Trump, your vision for America includes ‘expanding territory, building cities and carrying your flag into new and beautiful horizons’. Expansion, if untempered by by mutual respect, risks repeating the sins of the past. You speak of ‘one glorious nation under God’. We, too, are nations under God. Our faith sustains us, even when the odds seem insurmountable. Our belief in a just world keeps us striving for a better tomorrow.