Africans no longer view US as most influential country- Gallup Poll

Africans no longer consider the US as the most influential country in the continent, a position that China has taken, a new Gallup report showed.

Median approval ratings of Washington – indicative of the country’s soft power – slipped from 59% in 2022 to 56% in 2023, the report said.

Meanwhile, China’s approval in the region rose six percentage points, from 52% in 2022 to 58% in 2023, two points ahead of the U.S.

Gallup noted that China’s improved rating may come from its increased investment on the continent. It’s now Africa’s biggest trading partner.

Germany’s leadership image improved too, albeit only from 51% to 54%, placing it and the U.S. on similar footing.

Although it seems to be gaining ground in some parts of Africa such as the Sahel, Russia’s median approval increased only by 8 points to 42%.