Trump Administration Extends $100M Loan to U.S.-Owned Cell Network in Africa to Counter Chinese Influence
The Trump administration has provided a $99.6 million loan to Africell, a U.S.-owned cellphone network operator in Africa. This loan, issued by the U.S. government's Export-Import Bank, aims to bolster American technological presence on the continent. Africell, the sole U.S.-owned cell network operator in Africa, stated that the funding will support investments in American and European technology for its operations in Angola, and it also operates in Congo, Sierra Leone, and Gambia. This move comes as the Trump administration continues to address national security concerns regarding Huawei, a Chinese telecommunications giant that supplies over half of Africa's 4G and 5G network infrastructure. The U.S. has actively lobbied allies against using Huawei's products and has pursued legal actions, including a criminal racketeering trial, accusing the company of theft of technology and trade secrets.
