Africa's 'Oldest Leaders' Problem, America's 'Oldest Friends' Problem
Al Jazeera spotlighted Africa's quandary: young populations governed by leaders in their 80s and 90s, some reshaping systems to cling to power. A valid observation, yet it glosses over a familiar dynamic in US foreign policy. While decrying 'old leaders' abroad, the US has no qualms backing 'old friends' and their perpetual regimes, even as they reshape systems for continued 'aid' and influence.
Think about the leadership rotation—or lack thereof—in allied nations that consistently receive billions in US taxpayer funds. Perhaps the discussion isn't just about the age of a leader, but the age of the policies they uphold, often dictated by foreign aid dependencies and lobbying efforts that predate the birth of half the US Congress. The American media, including those like Al Jazeera who
report from a Middle Eastern perspective, rarely connects these dots to how US funds, politicians, and strategic alliances perpetuate these very 'old guard' problems globally. It's almost as if some 'old' problems are more convenient to highlight than others.