As President Donald Trump gears up for his second term, the composition of his Africa team is beginning to take shape, with Dr. J. Peter Pham emerging as a key figure in shaping U.S. policy towards the continent and specifically Liberia.
Known for his sharp critiques of Liberia’s governance as detailed in his book, “Liberia: Portrait of a Failed State,” Pham’s perspectives are expected to influence the trajectory of U.S.-Liberia relations over the coming years.
Pham, who has a long history with Liberia dating back to the country’s 2005 elections as a keen observer, is critical of the current administration under President Joseph Boakai. He accused Boakai’s officials of sabotaging economic policies aimed at establishing a multiuser railway system that would potentially transform Liberia’s economic landscape.
The railway, vital for connecting Liberia’s mineral-rich areas to the port of Buchanan, has been under the control of ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) for years, limiting access to other competitors and stifling economic opportunities for the nation.
In a December 4, 2024 letter published in the Daily Observer newspaper Pham said “It is therefore very disappointing to see that certain government officials have effectively sabotaged the President’s vision by aligning themselves behind his back to a model where one Indian-owned company continues to monopolize the rail, for its personal use.”
The implications of Pham’s ascendance in the Trump administration are multifaceted. His book provides a comprehensive critique of Liberia’s political landscape, revealing his deep understanding of the country’s challenges while also hinting at his potential indifference towards certain officials in the Monrovia administration.
This complexity raises concerns about how his past critiques will affect his approach to diplomacy.
With reports indicating that he could take on the role of assistant secretary of state for African affairs, Pham’s influence is poised to shape U.S. engagement in Liberia.
His past roles, including U.S. Special Envoy for the Sahel Region, equip him with the experience necessary to navigate the challenges of African geopolitics, yet his expressed disappointment in the current Liberian government’s activities may sour relations if not carefully managed.
His strong ties to the U.S. mining firm High Power Exploration, which seeks greater access to the railways, further complicate the dynamic, as local officials handle competition priorities between foreign business interests and national economic strategies.
Furthermore, Pham’s outreach to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations signifies a strategic maneuver to secure support and leverage legislative power to influence Liberia’s governance and economic policies.
His warnings about data integrity and governance may resonate well with Washington’s insistence on transparency and anti-corruption measures—a sentiment that could have long-lasting implications for Liberia’s political landscape over the next six years.
In a landscape marked by urgent economic needs and the weight of historical governance failures, Liberia stands at a crossroads. The next administration’s engagement could either bolster its economic prospects or deepen existing challenges, depending on how effectively leaders like Dr. Pham steer the delicate balance of U.S. interests and Liberia’s sovereign needs.
Other team members as reported by Africa Intelligence
Joe Foltz, who, as revealed by Africa Intelligence (AI, 08/01/25), is tipped to head the Africa division of the White House’s National Security Council (NSC). A former senior USAID official with a strong focus on Africa, Foltz currently works within the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, chaired by Republican John James.
In December, Foltz presented his vision for Trump’s African policy to Michael Waltz, the incoming national security adviser, during a private meeting.
Even before their appointments are officially confirmed, both Foltz and Pham received Congolese delegations sent to Washington in December by President Félix Tshisekedi.
Despite his active role in Trump’s re-election campaign on African issues, Tibor Nagy, who served as assistant secretary of state for African affairs from 2018 to 2021, is likely to step back from these matters. Once considered for a senior position at the State Department, Nagy, who has had ambassadorial postings in Guinea and Ethiopia, is now being tipped to head the US embassy in Hungary, his country of origin.
Other figures associated with Republican Africanist circles are also being considered for roles in the new administration. Cameron Hudson, who served as the NSC’s Africa director under George W. Bush following a career at the CIA, is among the potential appointees.
Likewise, Joshua Meservey, currently a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and a seven-year veteran of the conservative Heritage Foundation, is a strong candidate. Close to Trump-aligned circles, the Heritage Foundation has recently advocated for the US to become the first country to recognise Somaliland, breaking with the Biden administration’s “one Somalia policy” (AI, 02/08/24).
Another respected Republican voice on African issues, John Tomaszewski, is expected to remain an Africa adviser to Idaho Senator Jim Risch. As head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Risch will play a pivotal role in shaping US foreign policy, from ambassadorial approvals to sanctions decisions.
Evangelical influence
Donald Trump, known for his lack of interest in Africa, may delegate aspects of his policy on the continent to close relatives as part of his “family-style” diplomacy. One frequently mentioned name is Massad Boulos, whose son Michael Boulos is married to Tiffany Trump, the president-elect’s fourth child.
Appointed special adviser for the Middle East, Massad Boulos has strong business ties within the Lebanese diaspora in West and Central Africa.
Boulos’s father-in-law, Franco-Burkinabe Michel Zouhair Fadoul, founded Fadoul Afrique in 1966. The group operates around a dozen companies across Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Benin, Togo, and Cameroon, specialising in construction, industry, media, and automotive distribution. Fadoul also manages SCOA Nigeria, a Lagos-based vehicle-sales company led by Boulos for several years.
Although his current brief is officially limited to the Middle East, Boulos has reportedly hinted to associates that he might take an interest in African matters in the future.
Beyond traditional diplomatic networks, Trump’s Africa team will also need to navigate the influence of the Evangelical movement, a key Republican voting bloc.
In recent years, Evangelical leaders have criticised the “woke” elements they perceive in President Joe Biden’s foreign policy machinery, particularly in Africa. Among institutions linked to this movement, Liberty University in Virginia has shown increasing interest in Africa.
The university has hosted high-level gatherings attended by prominent African figures, including former Ghanaian president Nana Akufo-Addo and former Liberian vice president Jewel Taylor.
