US approves $99.6M loan to Africell to counter Huawei in Africa

The Trump administration has approved a $99.6 million loan to Africell, the only U.S.-owned mobile network operator in Africa, as part of a broader strategy to expand American technology on the continent and counter the influence of Chinese telecom giant Huawei. The financing, provided through the U.S. Export-Import Bank, was announced by Africell on Friday, September 12, 2026. Africell plans to use the loan to purchase telecommunications equipment from American and allied suppliers for its network in Angola. The company also operates in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia, serving approximately 15 million customers across its four markets. The loan is intended to boost U.S.-based employment in the telecommunications sector and strengthen American technology leadership abroad, according to the company. The move is part of Washington's ongoing effort to promote the adoption of non-Chinese telecommunications technology overseas. Huawei is a dominant player in Africa's telecom infrastructure, estimated to supply more than half of the continent's 4G and 5G network equipment. The U.S.