US lends $99.6 million to Africell to expand telecom tech in Africa

The U.S. Export-Import Bank has approved a loan of approximately $99.6 million to Africell Holding Limited, the only American-owned mobile network operator in Africa. The financing is intended to support Africell’s investment in mobile network technology sourced from American and European suppliers, specifically for its operations in Angola.

The move is viewed as a strategic effort by Washington to counter the dominance of China’s Huawei, which currently holds an estimated 52% share of Africa’s 5G infrastructure market. By providing commercial financing, the U.S. aims to promote the use of American and allied technology in critical digital infrastructure, including networking and data centers, while addressing national security concerns regarding Chinese equipment.

Africell serves approximately 15 million customers across Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Uganda, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. CEO Ziad Dalloul stated that the funding will allow the company to implement more secure and trusted communications infrastructure in its markets.