- Kenyan President William Ruto is among the African leaders excluded from the invitations to the second inauguration of Donald Trump as the president of the United States
- The event features an unusual guest list of right-wing and populist leaders, breaking the norm of low attendance of foreign leaders at US inaugurations
- The absurdity is due in part to Trump's past poor relationship with Africa and the decline in US investment in the continent during his first term.
As the United States prepares for the inauguration of the President-elect Donald Trump for his second term as the 47th president, diplomatic eyebrows are being raised around the world.
Source: UGC
Among the famous people missing from the guest list of the event is the President of Kenya William Rutoalong with many African leaders.
Ruto's office has not released any official communication saying that he has been invited to the event.
This absence marks a major change in the relationship between the United States and Kenya, especially after President Ruto's Kenya was appointed as a major non-NATO partner under the previous administration of Joe Biden.
Where will the inauguration of Donald Trump take place?
The celebrations are scheduled to take place today, Monday, January 20, in the capital of the United States, Washington DC.
The event will however be held indoors in the Capitol Rotunda, due to the cold weather.
According to reports, the event is expected to draw around 500,000 visitors.
Unlike previous inaugurations, Trump's second inauguration will feature a different guest list that includes sitting and former heads of state, many of them from right-wing or populist governments.
Historically, foreign leaders do not attend US presidential inaugurations, while their countries are represented by ambassadors or foreign ministers.
Who will attend the inauguration of Donald Trump?
According to Al Jazeera, leaders who have confirmed or invited to attend include:
- Argentine President Javier Miley
- Chinese President Xi Jinping
- Italian Prime Minister Giorga Meloni
- President of Ecuador Daniel Noboa
- President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele
- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban
- Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Former Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawieck
In contrast, senior leaders from key allies such as the UK, Germany and France have been left out.
German President Olaf Scholz, who heads the EU's largest economy, was snubbed, and the invitation was instead sent to Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also not been invited, and however, far-right politician Nigel Farage of the Reform UK party has been invited and will attend.
French President Emmanuel Macron was not invited, despite Macron and Trump having a friendly relationship. Instead, French far-right politician Eric Zemmour of the Reconquest party will be there.
African leaders were ignored during the inauguration of Donald Trump
President Ruto is among several African presidents who have not been invited and will not attend the event. This move is in line with Trump's supposed history of being tough with the continent.
During his first term (2017–2021), Trump made controversial statements about African nations, which witnessed protest official from countries like South Africa, Nigeria, and Ghana.
Additionally, his administration oversaw a decline in US foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa, which dropped by more than $10 billion.
In contrast, during that period, China significantly increased its influence in Africa, investing billions in critical infrastructure and energy projects. In Kenya alone, China has funded major developments, such as the Standard Gauge Railway.
Trump's relationship with Africa deteriorated
Trump's inauguration speech is expected to emphasize his vision of “America First,” and an emphasis on reasserting US dominance on the international stage.
Analysts predict further disengagement, with Africa likely to replace Trump's priority regions. This could have implications for trade cooperation, aid, and security, areas where US involvement has historically been important.
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