Trump administration backs U.S. mobile operator Africell with $99.6 million loan
The U.S. Export-Import Bank approved a $99.6 million loan to Africell, the only American-owned cellular network in Africa, to expand its use of U.S. and European equipment.
The Trump administration, through the Export-Import Bank, has granted a $99.6 million loan to Africell, the sole U.S.-owned mobile network operator on the continent. Africell said the financing will enable it to invest in American and European telecom gear for its Angolan network and other sites in Congo, Sierra Leone and Gambia, creating U.S. jobs and reinforcing American tech leadership abroad. The loan reflects broader U.S. efforts to counter Huawei, which provides over half of Africa’s 4G and 5G infrastructure and is under criminal prosecution in New York for alleged theft of trade secrets and fraud.
By supporting Africell, the administration aims to diversify Africa’s telecom supply chain and reduce reliance on Chinese equipment. Huawei has denied the accusations, calling them demonstrably false. The initiative also aligns with U.S. strategies to limit Chinese influence in African critical mineral extraction.
Why it matters
The loan aims to shift Africa’s telecom infrastructure toward U.S. technology, challenging Huawei’s market dominance.
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