US In $100 Million Africell Play to Counter Huawei in Scramble for Africa’s Digital Infrastructure

The United States is loaning $100 million to Africell, Africa’s only American-owned telecoms operator, in a direct strategic move to counter China's Huawei across the continent. Under the agreement, Africell will invest in U.S. and allied network technology while explicitly excluding cheaper Huawei infrastructure.1

This loan shows a growing geopolitical contest over critical data networks and national security assets. For African nations, the challenge remains ensuring this competition builds genuine local ownership.