Trump ends Obama-era initiative to boost access to electricity in Africa

|Published 3:00 PM ET, Sunday March 2, 2025|

The Trump administration has terminated the Power Africa initiative, an Obama-era program launched in 2013 to enhance electricity access across Africa. This decision resulted in the termination of most of Power Africa’s programs and significant staff layoffs. Some initiatives that align with U.S. interests may be retained and transferred to other agencies. ​

Power Africa, operating under the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), aimed to add 30 gigawatts of cleaner electricity generation capacity and provide 60 million new connections to homes and businesses in sub-Saharan Africa, where nearly half of the population lacks access to electricity. The program facilitated over 150 power projects, contributing approximately 14,300 megawatts of capacity and enabling electricity access for around 216 million users. ​

The termination of Power Africa is part of a broader restructuring effort led by the Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Elon Musk, aiming to refocus U.S. assistance to better serve national interests.

This move raises concerns about the future of energy development in Africa and the potential impact on the continent’s economic growth and stability.