Kinshasa: Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, Archbishop of Kinshasa, has made an impassioned plea to former U.S. President Donald Trump, urging the restoration of American aid to Africa amid deepening humanitarian crises across the continent.

Writing in an op-ed published by the Wall Street Journal, Cardinal Ambongo acknowledged Trump’s America-first stance but warned against overlooking Africa’s strategic and human importance to the United States. “To ignore Africa,” the cardinal wrote, “is to miss out on a continent brimming with potential—rich in natural resources, entrepreneurial energy, and a rapidly growing youth population that looks to the future with hope.”

Citing the positive impact of USAID programs in transforming African communities over the years, he warned that the January 20, 2025, suspension of U.S. foreign assistance has already triggered devastating consequences, including rising hunger and child malnutrition in vulnerable areas.

Cardinal Ambongo also critiqued the conditionality often attached to foreign aid, particularly regarding social policies that, in his words, “clash with African moral and cultural values”—such as abortion and population control. He stressed that aid should uplift communities without undermining their ethical foundations.

“There is still time to rethink this approach,” the cardinal said, “and craft policies that affirm human dignity while supporting development.”

The cardinal’s appeal comes at a moment when reports from humanitarian organizations highlight the worsening impact of aid cuts—especially in health care, food security, and education. His message, though directed at U.S. leadership, resonates across the broader international community, calling for a renewed commitment to solidarity without moral compromise.