Africa Report – Julian Pecquet……Moment of Truth

Donald Trump’s adviser on African affairs, Massad Boulos, has faced months of controversy and criticism.
Inside the White House, some staff saw his African activities as a waste of the president’s time.
On Capitol Hill, he was criticized for rarely briefing lawmakers on what he was doing.
Meanwhile, veteran Africa experts complained that he never sought their advice.
In the background, accusations of conflicts of interest related to his family’s business activities continued to pile up.
And for a personal envoy to a president who loves boasting—often prematurely—about diplomatic successes, Boulos’s frantic efforts to resolve complex crises from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Sudan have so far hit a dead end.
A senior aide to Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi says:
“He went from very popular… to unpopular. Congolese people may be with you at breakfast, but by lunchtime they drop you if you don’t deliver results.”
Yet there he was—wearing his trademark sunglasses, calm smile, and gray beard—walking right behind the U.S. president during a moment of triumph in Sharm El-Sheikh.
As Trump stepped off Air Force One on 13 October to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, it was clear that Boulos’s position within the president’s inner circle remained intact.
After that, Boulos joined a small group of U.S. officials to witness Trump signing the historic Gaza ceasefire agreement alongside the leaders of Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.
Boulos told The Africa Report:
“Progress in one region creates momentum in another… and the administration is taking decisive steps to address the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Sudan.”
“The Forrest Gump of Diplomacy”
Just two days later, Boulos was in Cairo meeting President Sisi and then Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
He then flew to Rome, where he met the leaders of Chad, Togo, and Nigeria, discussing issues spanning Sudan, Libya, and eastern Congo.
Former U.S. official Cameron Hudson describes him as:
“The Forrest Gump of diplomacy… he just pops up with presidents, and you have no idea how he got there.”
Non-stop Tours Across Africa
In just six months, Boulos visited 12 African countries, making him the most visible representative of the U.S. administration on the continent.
And while some see him as a “free agent,” the State Department insists he is part of the formal policy process.
But assessments of him vary widely:
Is he:
a cultural bridge capable of drawing Washington’s attention to Africa?
or
an inexperienced amateur lacking the institutional backing needed to make U.S. policy effective?
Cameroonian lawyer NJ Ayuk says:
“I like him because he represents a different type of diplomacy… but it comes with risks.”
From Car Dealer in Lagos… to Trump’s Point Man in Africa
Boulos was born in Lebanon in 1971 and educated in Texas.
He married the daughter of Lebanese billionaire Zouhair Fadoul, one of West Africa’s largest businessmen.
The Fadoul family owns over 100 companies across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
Boulos splits his time between Nigeria and Florida.
He became part of the Trump family after his son Michael married Tiffany Trump in 2022.
Ayuk says:
“He is fully American… but being Lebanese and African gives him a big advantage.”
African leaders—tired of Western “lectures”—tend to prefer his business-style, direct approach over traditional moralistic rhetoric.
A Fierce Defender of Trump
When Trump sparked controversy by commenting on the Liberian president’s English, Boulos rushed to defend him.
And at the United Nations, when a Congolese journalist called him a “face of hope,” Boulos responded:
“The credit goes to President Trump… we just carry out his vision. He wants peace.”
Still, some figures in “Trump World” have tried to sideline him.
Embarrassment, Accusations… and Revival
Boulos has been accused of:
inflating his credentials
conflicts of interest
operating beyond his mandate
mixing personal business with politics
pursuing private deals in Libya and the DRC
But his defenders argue he:
builds relationships quickly
opens previously closed doors
brought Africa back to the center of the White House agenda
Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Tibor Nagy says:
“Anyone who succeeds in business in Nigeria… has a lot of practical intelligence.”
The Sudan File: His Toughest Test
Here, Boulos’s efforts face the harshest scrutiny.
He secretly brought Burhan and Hemedti together in Geneva in August—raising concerns among analysts who believe he is too quick to trust military promises.
A major miscalculation:
He publicly claimed that the RSF would allow humanitarian aid into El-Fasher,
and days later, the last hospital in the city was attacked after a long siege.
Sudanese analyst Kholood Khair says:
“He seems to believe whatever the generals tell him… and that’s dangerous.”
Congressional Pressure… and Growing Anger Over the UAE’s Role
Boulos is in a difficult position:
The United States is under mounting domestic and international pressure over accusations that the UAE is supplying the RSF in what many describe as a “genocidal campaign.”
Powerful members of Congress declared on 30 October:
“This is not a war… it is a systematic genocide.”
They called for:
holding RSF leaders accountable
designating the militia as a terrorist organization
confronting the UAE over its military support
Boulos Responds
On 29 October, Boulos wrote on X:
“Statements are not enough… promises must be translated into action to save lives.”
He now says Trump’s role is to mediate a humanitarian pause between the Sudanese army and the RSF.
But analysts argue that the deals he brokers:
are superficial
short-term
fail to address root causes
and lack enforcement mechanisms
Conclusion: Success or Failure in Sudan Will Define Boulos’s Future
Boulos acknowledges that:
“Long-term economic growth requires peace and stability first.”
But his ability to achieve a breakthrough in Sudan is highly doubtful, given:
chaotic diplomacy
lack of real pressure on the parties
complex regional involvement
deep UAE entanglement
and expanding Iranian, Russian, and Chinese influence
His failure in the Sudan file could shatter the image of a “deal-maker,”
while even a partial success could cement his role as a key player in Trump’s Africa diplomacy.