Tech billionaire Elon Musk has sparked fresh controversy after claiming that death rates across Africa declined following major cuts to United States foreign aid, insisting the reductions ended programmes he believes contributed to political instability on the continent.
Musk made the remarks in a post on X while responding to criticism over funding cuts carried out under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative he has publicly backed that significantly reduced funding for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
According to Refugees International, U.S. humanitarian funding dropped from $14 billion in 2024 to $3.7 billion in 2025, while the Center for Global Development reported that USAID spending fell by about 58 percent during the same period.
Despite the reductions, Musk argued that mortality data from several African countries did not show an increase in deaths after the aid cuts.
“Deaths in Africa DECREASED after USAID funding was cut, because they’re no longer able to push for violent revolution to install leftist regimes!” Musk wrote.
He shared an analysis that included weekly mortality data from South Africa, claiming observed excess deaths remained lower than projections made before the funding cuts.
Musk has repeatedly defended the reduction in foreign aid, arguing it was necessary to eliminate waste, corruption and the misuse of American taxpayers’ money.
However, his comments have drawn sharp contrast with warnings from global health experts and humanitarian organisations.
A study published in The Lancet projected that the aid cuts could contribute to more than 14 million deaths worldwide by 2030, including over 4.5 million children.
Similarly, journalist Nicholas Kristof, citing estimates from the Center for Global Development, warned that more than 1.6 million people could die within a year without U.S.-funded HIV prevention and treatment programmes.
The conflicting assessments have reignited debate over the humanitarian impact of the United States’ foreign aid cuts, with supporters arguing they improve accountability, while critics warn they could put millions of vulnerable lives at risk.
Source: X, Refugees International, Center for Global Development, The Lancet
