United States pushes $26 B data center and airport projects in Africa

The U.S. government is advancing a series of public‑private partnerships worth about $26 billion to build AI‑ready data centers across Africa. Projects include a $1 billion geothermal‑powered facility in Kenya by Microsoft and UAE‑based G42, and a $720 million rollout by Cassava Technologies that will start in South Africa and expand to Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya and Morocco. The effort is positioned as a counter to China’s growing digital‑infrastructure presence on the continent.

At the same time, Washington is seeking a commercial stake in Ethiopia’s Bishoftu International Airport, a $12.5 billion project that will become Africa’s largest airport when fully built. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the Middle East and Africa Mark Mitchell highlighted potential involvement of American firms such as Boeing and GE Aerospace. The airport, slated for completion in 2030, aims to handle up to 110 million passengers annually and is part of broader competition with Chinese firms for African trade and infrastructure contracts.