Beyond the Rhetoric: The US Shadow Games in Africa

(5 Minutes Read)

Under the Trump administration, U.S. policy toward Africa shifted to a transactional, interest-driven approach focused on securing strategic resources and reducing aid dependence. Actions like aid cuts and travel bans reflected this shift, while investments in energy, tech, and infrastructure—especially in mineral-rich nations—sought to counter China’s influence. Projects like the Lobito Corridor and Starlink expansion illustrate this strategy, with a focus on mutual economic benefit over traditional diplomacy.

 The US policy on Africa has radically shifted under the Trump administration, sending mixed signals.  At first glance, his abrupt policy moves signalled a sense of hostility and apathy towards the continent. The insensibility towards the social, economic and developmental consequences of dismantling the USAID, closure of several US embassies in Africa, and banishing visitors from certain African countries are a few among them. While on the developmental side, he has tightened the purse on aid, on the economic front, Trump’s recent policy on trade tariffs signals the end of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the trade deal that offered preferential access to US markets for several African countries.

On closer examination, the US strategy in Africa reveals a strategic game plan.  Things fall into place if we view these policies through the lens of transactionalism, the cornerstone of Trump’s philosophy.  Rooted in the “America First” doctrine, Trump is clear that if an African country needs the U S support, it must reciprocate through other means. It could be providing access to its natural resources or accepting deportees from the United States.

In short, the usual US agenda of business and technological dominance and geopolitical manoeuvring will continue to dominate the US strategy in Africa, bereft of humanitarian aid or development assistance.

Ensuring US access to minerals is central to the new US administration. After successfully negotiating a minerals deal with Ukraine, the U.S. is concentrating on West Africa, a region with abundant mineral wealth. The global focus on clean energy has prompted a race to secure essential metals needed for technology manufacturing

In the West African region, the DRC has shot into prominence with its vast reserves of cobalt, a strategic resource to produce batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), smartphones, and other consumer electronics. The US companies, such as Freeport-McMoran and Glencore, are deeply engaged with the DRC government and local businesses through partnerships and investments. The latest deal is by the U.S.-based KoBold Metals, which has committed over $1 billion to develop the Manono lithium project in the DRC.

The U.S. government is also facilitating deals to ensure American firms have steady access to these critical resources by securing the supply chain and establishing adequate infrastructure for mining, transporting, and exporting. The US agreement with the DRC and Zambia to create a regional ‘cobalt value chain’ positions the US as a key partner for African minerals.

Going further, the US is also playing an active role in peace negotiations between Rwanda and the DRC.  Resolving conflicts in eastern Congo is paramount for ensuring regional security and for the uninterrupted supply of minerals.

U S backing for the Lobito corridor, a rail project that links critical mineral deposits like copper and cobalt in Central Africa to Angola’s Atlantic port is also in place. The goal is to ease the export of minerals and curtail the reliance on routes dominated by China.

Resource-rich Countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire are also on the US radar. In 2025, the United States will have significantly deepened its economic engagements in Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, focusing on energy, infrastructure, and technology sectors.

The US energy giant ExxonMobil is set to inject USD 1.5 billion into the development of its deepwater operations in Nigeria. It is also reported that Coca-Cola proposes to invest $1 billion in its Nigerian operations over the next five years. U.S.-based Regnum Technology Group is supporting Ghana to enhance Ghana’s energy security and support its decarbonization goals. In Côte d’Ivoire, EcoStar Energy, a U.S.-based independent power producer, is developing the Boundiali Biomass Power Station, a thermal power plant.

Another strategic move by the US is the expansion of Starlink in Africa, which will deepen US influence in Africa’s digital economy to achieve geopolitical and economic goals. The satellite internet service, designed to provide high-speed internet services, will be a blessing for Africa, especially for its large rural population with poor internet infrastructure. Starlink’s entry will breach China’s dominance in the African telecom market through companies like Huawei.

The US policy towards Africa has been studied vis-à-vis its competition with China and, to a lesser extent, with Russia. But the Trump administration seems to be less bothered by these factors, say experts. The reasons attributed are the slowdown of the Chinese economy, the Chinese reliance on Loans rather than grants, and also the feeling in the Trump lobby that the China threat has been overhyped.

US is quietly expanding in Africa. The focus of the Obama administration in Africa was on diplomatic and development partnerships. The Trump administration has adopted a “transactional” approach, focussing on economic interests and strategic goals.

African countries must gauge this fundamental change in the US-Africa ties. The hope is that this shift will encourage African governments to delve into own resources for investments and stimulate their private sectors. The U.S.-Africa Business Summit, now in its 17^th year is scheduled to take place in June 22 in Luanda, Angola. Hopefully the Summit will chalk out a fresh mutually beneficial road map for Africa -US partnerships.