The Trump administration is warming to Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema following his disputed reelection despite growing concerns in Washington about a post-election crackdown.
asserted
administration → warm → crackdown
US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia attended Hichilema’s inauguration this week during his second trip to the continent in the role.
asserted
Garcia → attend → role
He also met separately with the Zambian leader.
asserted
He → meet → leader
Hichilema said Zambia looks “forward to further strengthening our bilateral relations” with the US.
asserted
Zambia → say → US
A State Department spokesperson told Semafor that the trip was a continuation of a decades-old relationship.
asserted
trip → tell → relationship
“After 62 years of diplomatic relations, the United States remains committed to Zambia’s success.
asserted
States → remain → success
We look forward to working with Zambia’s government, private sector, and people to deepen a partnership that delivers tangible and enduring benefits for both countries,” the spokesperson said.
asserted
spokesperson → look → countries
The Trump administration’s posture towards the government in Lusaka contrasts with warnings from Democrats on Capitol Hill, some of whom had urged the State Department before the August 13 vote to press for a free and fair election.
asserted
some → contrast → election
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told Semafor that “democratic backsliding in Zambia is a major concern for the Southern African region,” adding that post-election “violence and arbitrary arrest” are signs of “a clear divergence from Zambia’s legacy of competitive elections and peaceful transfers of power.”
asserted
violence → tell → power
She called on Hichilema and his party to move forward with reforms because “clear violations of democratic gains threaten not only the safety and security of Zambians but also the positive relationship the US has built with the Hichilema administration.”
asserted
US → call → administration
Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “call on President Hichilema to release the electoral results from Zambia’s polling stations, investigate the fatal shooting of former minister Mutotwe Kafwaya, and allow the courts to hear legal challenges.”
asserted
courts → urge → challenges
He cited the need for a “firm response” ahead of upcoming elections in Angola, Kenya, and Nigeria.
asserted
He → cite → Angola
Kafwaya was killed during a police raid on a house occupied by opposition leaders following the August election.
asserted
Kafwaya → kill → election
Senate Africa subcommittee ranking member Cory Booker, D-N.J., called the killing of Kafwaya and the arrests of opposition members “deeply concerning.”
asserted
Booker → rank → members
A representative for Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch, R-Idaho, declined to comment.
asserted
representative → decline → Risch
Other Republican lawmakers working on Africa policy did not return requests for comment by press time.
asserted
lawmakers → work → time
Zambia’s election commission declared Hichilema the winner on August 18 with about 60% of the vote against opposition candidate Brian Mundubile’s roughly 38%.
asserted
Hichilema → declare → %
Mundubile has alleged irregularities and election observers have also reported inflated vote tallies and improper administration.
asserted
observers → allege → tallies
Authorities sealed off the courts on the final day to file an election petition, clearing the way for Hichilema’s inauguration.
asserted
Authorities → seal → inauguration
Post-election crackdowns left Mundubile and many of his allies facing treason charges that a UN human rights official called “concocted.”
asserted
official → leave → that
Zambia is central to the US-backed Lobito Corridor linking Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia’s copper belt to the Atlantic.
asserted
Zambia → back → Atlantic
But ties between the US and Zambia frayed this year following reports the State Department was tying health funding to preferential mineral access for US firms, a plan that Zambia rejected.
asserted
Zambia → fray → that
The Aporia
