The Export‑Import Bank of the United States will lend almost $100 million to Africell Holding Limited, Africa’s sole American‑owned telecom operator, as part of Washington’s effort to curb China’s Huawei from expanding its 5G infrastructure on the continent.
According to a press release, the loan will enable Africell to invest in the latest mobile network technology from American and allied suppliers. “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.
Huawei, which holds roughly 52 % of Africa’s 5G market, has been the subject of heavy U.S. sanctions over allegations that it could spy on users, allegations the company denies. The Chinese embassy in Washington has defended China’s investment in Africa, urging the U.S. to support other countries’ development without “pursuing its Africa agenda” to undermine China‑Africa cooperation.
The loan follows a 2025 executive order by President Trump mandating that U.S. agencies promote American technology abroad in AI, data‑center storage, cloud services and networking. Africell, founded in 2001, already operates 15 million customers across Angola, Gambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone and has previously received a $100 million loan from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation in 2018 to expand its infrastructure.
With the new funding, Africell aims to further diversify its equipment sources and strengthen secure communications for its markets, aligning with the U.S. “clean network” initiative that seeks to purge Chinese telecom technology from infrastructure in the United States and allied nations.
