Business Africa

Power Play or Partnership? America’s Strategy in Africa [Business Africa]

/n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\nThis Week: U.S. Influence in Africa, EU-Zimbabwe Trade, and Uganda\u2019s Tea Crisis<\/strong><\/p>\nThis week, our guest, historian Amzat Boukari-Yabara, revisits the intensifying American influence in Africa, spanning energy and mining projects. Meanwhile, the European Union seeks to strengthen its trade ties with Zimbabwe, and in Uganda, the tea industry is reeling from a pricing crisis.<\/p>\n<h2>Africa and the U.S.'s Multidimensional Strategy<\/strong><\/h2>\nAs major powers vie for access to Africa\u2019s strategic resources, the United States is deploying a complex strategy that blends economic investments, security cooperation, and diplomatic mediation. This approach aims not only to secure energy and mineral supplies but also to counter the growing influence of China and Russia on the continent.<\/p>\nNigeria-Morocco Pipeline: An Energy and Geopolitical Keystone<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project (5,660 km, $25 billion) perfectly illustrates this strategy. Actively supported by Washington, this mega-project serves several strategic goals: reducing Europe\u2019s dependence on Russian gas, countering Chinese advances\u2014with the Jingye Group already supplying construction materials\u2014and bolstering American influence. \u201cThere has been a reshaping of energy stakes since the war in Ukraine,\u201d explains historian Amzat Boukari-Yabara, noting how the U.S. is exploiting Europe\u2019s new vulnerabilities.<\/p>\nDR Congo: Mining Wealth and Instrumentalized Instability<\/strong><\/p>\nIn the Democratic Republic of Congo, U.S. strategy reveals its contradictions. On one hand, companies like KoBold Metals (backed by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos) are making major investments in cobalt and copper extraction. On the other, Washington offers conditional military support in the east of the country while positioning itself as a mediator in the conflict with Rwanda. \u201cWe are witnessing the monetization of instability,\u201d Boukari-Yabara warns, highlighting \u201ca U.S. ability to exert diplomatic, commercial, and security blackmail.\u201d This approach peaks with opaque negotiations involving Rwanda over Congolese resources, which \u201ctend to perpetuate the crisis in eastern Congo.\u201d<\/p>\nKenya and Rare Earths: A Strategic Partnership<\/strong><\/p>\nIn Kenya, the U.S. is strengthening partnerships around rare earths, which are essential for the energy transition. This push is part of a global race for critical minerals, where Washington seeks to close the gap with Beijing. It also comes alongside a military repositioning in the region, particularly in the Sahel after France\u2019s withdrawal.<\/p>\nQuestionable Tactics<\/strong><\/p>\nRecent American initiatives raise concerns about respect for African sovereignty. The most striking example is Trump\u2019s proposal to recognize Somaliland in exchange for accepting Palestinian refugees. For Boukari-Yabara, these \u201cdeal-making negotiations\u201d reflect a purely transactional view of relations with Africa.<\/p>\nIn the face of this aggressive policy, the historian calls for an urgent, unified continental response: \u201cWe need to create transnational industries and resolve the CFA franc issue.\u201d His call for unity resonates, as \u201call these resources directly concern the U.S. in its global vision.\u201d The key question remains whether African countries can turn this new geopolitical rivalry into a genuine opportunity for sovereign development.<\/p>\n<h2>Zimbabwe: Toward Strengthened Trade Ties with the EU?<\/strong><\/h2>\nAs the United States reduces its aid to many African countries, the European Union is revising its strategy on the continent\u2014particularly in Zimbabwe. Brussels is moving from the role of donor to co-investor, offering duty- and tax-free access to its market. France is supporting local agricultural SMEs, and the Netherlands already imports Zimbabwean fruits and steel.<\/p>\nThis renewed European trade push comes amid a tense political climate. The recent NGO law (PVO Bill), deemed repressive by civil organizations, has sparked concern. Nevertheless, the EU hopes Zimbabwean businesses will seize the opportunity.<\/p>\nA report by Keith Baptist<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2>Uganda: Tea Industry in Peril Amid Price Collapse<\/strong><\/h2>\nUganda\u2019s tea industry is undergoing an unprecedented crisis. Tea prices have dropped significantly, averaging just $0.79 per kilo\u2014far below the more than $2 fetched by Kenyan and Rwandan teas. This sharp price drop has led many farmers to abandon tea in favor of more profitable crops such as maize and bananas.<\/p>\nVictoria Ashabahebwa, director of Swazi Tea Co. LTD, notes that more than a million Ugandans depend on tea for their livelihood. Declining tea quality, high production costs, and a lack of government support are all contributing factors. Farmers and processors have called on the government to invest in the sector and rescue an industry that was once thriving\u2014but so far, no official response has been given.<\/p>\nA report by Isabel Nakirya<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1746029931,"updatedAt":1746440069,"publishedAt":1746178551,"firstPublishedAt":1746178551,"lastPublishedAt":1746440069,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/24\/88\/48\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_f2c4ad0d-8af6-5de0-85ec-2779f698fcd5-9248848.jpg","altText":"Nd\u00e9a Yoka, host and producer of Business Africa, and her guest, historian Mr. Amzat Boukari-Yabar","caption":"Nd\u00e9a Yoka, host and producer of Business Africa, and her guest, historian Mr. Amzat Boukari-Yabar","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Africanews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2224,"urlSafeValue":"yoka","title":"Ndea Yoka","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":11071,"slug":"investment","urlSafeValue":"investment","title":"Investment","titleRaw":"Investment"},{"id":12129,"slug":"african-economy","urlSafeValue":"african-economy","title":"African economy","titleRaw":"African economy"},{"id":306,"slug":"zimbabwe","urlSafeValue":"zimbabwe","title":"Zimbabwe","titleRaw":"Zimbabwe"},{"id":22734,"slug":"tea","urlSafeValue":"tea","title":"tea","titleRaw":"tea"},{"id":287,"slug":"uganda","urlSafeValue":"uganda","title":"Uganda","titleRaw":"Uganda"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"html","count":1}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"43-sStWGobE"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/13\/69\/73\/01\/ED_PYR_1369731_20250501154040.mp4","editor":"","duration":674280,"filesizeBytes":89905558,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/13\/69\/73\/01\/SHD_PYR_1369731_20250501154040.mp4","editor":"","duration":674280,"filesizeBytes":141254943,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/13\/69\/73\/01\/FHD_PYR_1369731_20250501154040.mp4","editor":"","duration":674280,"filesizeBytes":513393439,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"bonus","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"af_business_africa","urlSafeValue":"business-africa","title":"Business Africa","online":1},"vertical":"business","verticals":[{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"id":7,"urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":7,"urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":3,"urlSafeValue":"africa","title":"Africa"},"country":{},"town":{},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":{"fr":{"url":"la-strategie-us-en-afrique-main-tendue-ou-mainmise-business-africa","title":"La strat\u00e9gie US en Afrique : main tendue ou mainmise ? [Business Africa]","authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"yoka","twitter":"","title":"Ndea Yoka"}],"producers":[]},"publishedAt":1746122421,"firstPublishedAt":1746122421,"lastPublishedAt":1746706972,"expiresAt":0},"en":{"publishedAt":1746178551,"lastPublishedAt":1746440069,"firstPublishedAt":1746178551,"title":"Power Play or Partnership? America\u2019s Strategy in Africa [Business Africa]","url":"power-play-or-partnership-americas-strategy-in-africa-business-africa","expiresAt":0,"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"yoka","twitter":"","title":"Ndea Yoka"}],"producers":[]}}},"programDeliverable":{"slug":"web-bonus","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":{},"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":{},"localisation":{},"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"subprogram":{"id":"af_business_africa","urlSafeValue":"business-africa","title":"Business Africa","online":1},"articleType":"article-default"}" data-videosticky="" >

Ndéa Yoka, host and producer of Business Africa, and her guest, historian Mr. Amzat Boukari-Yabar -

Africanews

By Ndea Yoka

Last updated: 05/05 - 12:14

Business Africa

This Week: U.S. Influence in Africa, EU-Zimbabwe Trade, and Uganda’s Tea Crisis

This week, our guest, historian Amzat Boukari-Yabara, revisits the intensifying American influence in Africa, spanning energy and mining projects. Meanwhile, the European Union seeks to strengthen its trade ties with Zimbabwe, and in Uganda, the tea industry is reeling from a pricing crisis.

Africa and the U.S.'s Multidimensional Strategy

As major powers vie for access to Africa’s strategic resources, the United States is deploying a complex strategy that blends economic investments, security cooperation, and diplomatic mediation. This approach aims not only to secure energy and mineral supplies but also to counter the growing influence of China and Russia on the continent.

Nigeria-Morocco Pipeline: An Energy and Geopolitical Keystone

The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project (5,660 km, $25 billion) perfectly illustrates this strategy. Actively supported by Washington, this mega-project serves several strategic goals: reducing Europe’s dependence on Russian gas, countering Chinese advances—with the Jingye Group already supplying construction materials—and bolstering American influence. “There has been a reshaping of energy stakes since the war in Ukraine,” explains historian Amzat Boukari-Yabara, noting how the U.S. is exploiting Europe’s new vulnerabilities.

DR Congo: Mining Wealth and Instrumentalized Instability

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, U.S. strategy reveals its contradictions. On one hand, companies like KoBold Metals (backed by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos) are making major investments in cobalt and copper extraction. On the other, Washington offers conditional military support in the east of the country while positioning itself as a mediator in the conflict with Rwanda. “We are witnessing the monetization of instability,” Boukari-Yabara warns, highlighting “a U.S. ability to exert diplomatic, commercial, and security blackmail.” This approach peaks with opaque negotiations involving Rwanda over Congolese resources, which “tend to perpetuate the crisis in eastern Congo.”

Kenya and Rare Earths: A Strategic Partnership

In Kenya, the U.S. is strengthening partnerships around rare earths, which are essential for the energy transition. This push is part of a global race for critical minerals, where Washington seeks to close the gap with Beijing. It also comes alongside a military repositioning in the region, particularly in the Sahel after France’s withdrawal.

Questionable Tactics

Recent American initiatives raise concerns about respect for African sovereignty. The most striking example is Trump’s proposal to recognize Somaliland in exchange for accepting Palestinian refugees. For Boukari-Yabara, these “deal-making negotiations” reflect a purely transactional view of relations with Africa.

In the face of this aggressive policy, the historian calls for an urgent, unified continental response: “We need to create transnational industries and resolve the CFA franc issue.” His call for unity resonates, as “all these resources directly concern the U.S. in its global vision.” The key question remains whether African countries can turn this new geopolitical rivalry into a genuine opportunity for sovereign development.

Zimbabwe: Toward Strengthened Trade Ties with the EU?

As the United States reduces its aid to many African countries, the European Union is revising its strategy on the continent—particularly in Zimbabwe. Brussels is moving from the role of donor to co-investor, offering duty- and tax-free access to its market. France is supporting local agricultural SMEs, and the Netherlands already imports Zimbabwean fruits and steel.

This renewed European trade push comes amid a tense political climate. The recent NGO law (PVO Bill), deemed repressive by civil organizations, has sparked concern. Nevertheless, the EU hopes Zimbabwean businesses will seize the opportunity.

A report by Keith Baptist.

Uganda: Tea Industry in Peril Amid Price Collapse

Uganda’s tea industry is undergoing an unprecedented crisis. Tea prices have dropped significantly, averaging just $0.79 per kilo—far below the more than $2 fetched by Kenyan and Rwandan teas. This sharp price drop has led many farmers to abandon tea in favor of more profitable crops such as maize and bananas.

Victoria Ashabahebwa, director of Swazi Tea Co. LTD, notes that more than a million Ugandans depend on tea for their livelihood. Declining tea quality, high production costs, and a lack of government support are all contributing factors. Farmers and processors have called on the government to invest in the sector and rescue an industry that was once thriving—but so far, no official response has been given.

A report by Isabel Nakirya.