Tanzania, June 16 -- Dar es Salaam. Uncertainty surrounding the future of the United States' Food for Peace programme has revived a debate Africa can no longer afford to postpone: the continent's dependence on external systems for food security.

For decades, Food for Peace has served as one of the largest sources of emergency food assistance for developing countries, including many across Africa.

However, recent developments in Washington suggest the programme may increasingly shift towards advancing American agricultural and trade interests alongside its humanitarian mission.

While discussions continue in the United States, the implications for Africa extend beyond aid budgets. They raise wider questions about sovereignty, self-relian...