U.S. and China compete for influence in Africa

Africa is experiencing increased instability due to ongoing wars and insurgencies in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, the Sahel, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. This volatility coincides with intensifying competition between the United States and China for influence over the continent’s minerals, infrastructure, and political landscape.

China maintains a commercial-first approach, often avoiding direct diplomatic or military involvement in local conflicts to protect its interests. In contrast, the United States is focusing on diversifying critical-mineral supply chains to reduce reliance on Chinese-controlled corridors. A key American initiative is the Lobito Corridor, a U.S.-backed rail project. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation is providing a $553 million loan to rehabilitate over 800 miles of railway to transport copper and cobalt from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo through Angola to the Atlantic Ocean.