US Lends $100 Million to Africell to Counter Huawei in Africa

The Trump administration is issuing a nearly $100 million Export-Import Bank loan to Africell, targeting China's dominance in African telecommunications infrastructure by backing the continent's sole U.S.-owned telecom operator. The financing package aims to expand secure digital networks across emerging markets where Chinese technology providers have long held an entrenched advantage.

"We are pleased to be working with EXIM to introduce more trusted and secure communications infrastructure to our operating markets," said Ziad Dalloul, CEO of Africell Holding Limited.

Market Share and Regional Footprint

The U.S. EXIM financing arrives as western policymakers attempt to claw back ground in digital infrastructure development across the developing world. According to data from Counterpoint Research, Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei maintains approximately 52% of the market share for 5G network infrastructure across the African continent.

Africell operates as a direct competitor in this heavily contested market. The telecommunications provider currently serves 15 million customers across four distinct markets:

• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Angola
• Sierra Leone
• Gambia

Geopolitical Strategy in Telecom

Washington's financial backing reflects a broader geopolitical strategy spanning multiple administrations to offer developing nations an alternative to Chinese state-backed technology vendors. U.S. officials have repeatedly cautioned foreign governments against adopting network hardware from suppliers tied to foreign intelligence laws, arguing that reliance on non-allied vendors creates structural vulnerabilities in critical communications backbones.

By directing capital to Africell, the Export-Import Bank attempts to de-risk western-aligned telecommunications expansion in regions requiring heavy capital expenditure for tower construction, fiber backhaul, and spectrum acquisition. The loan structure is designed to crowd in private capital while ensuring that network expansion in sub-Saharan Africa adheres to western security and governance standards.