The 17th US-Africa Business Summit opens this Sunday in Luanda, Angola, at a tense juncture in Washington’s engagement with the African continent.
The high-level forum unfolds under the shadow of President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, which has already triggered sweeping aid reductions, trade restrictions, and tighter immigration policies affecting numerous African nations.
In 2024, total US trade in goods with Africa reached $71.6 billion (€61.9 billion), underscoring the continent’s growing significance as a commercial and strategic partner.
Under President Joe Biden, ties between Africa and the US experienced renewed momentum, most notably with Biden’s historic visit to Angola and expanded investments like the Lobito Corridor — a transnational railway project connecting Angola to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, and Tanzania, aimed at facilitating the export of critical minerals.
However, Trump’s reelection in January 2025 has raised alarms across the continent.
His administration quickly moved to suspend various USAID programs, some directly tied to infrastructure and agricultural empowerment along the Lobito Corridor.
Key initiatives supporting women farmers and healthcare — including the world’s largest HIV treatment program — have faced severe funding cuts, leading to clinic closures and widespread job losses in several African countries.
The impact extends beyond aid. A controversial executive order signed earlier this month restricts travel to the US from 12 nations, including Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, and Sudan.
A leaked State Department memorandum suggests that up to 36 more countries could soon face similar bans, 25 of them in Africa.
The document cites concerns over governance, identity verification systems, and civil document reliability.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has imposed new tariffs on African exports.
Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, warned that 47 out of 54 African nations will suffer direct consequences from these measures.
Reduced export revenues and depleted foreign exchange reserves are expected to strain already fragile economies.
Despite Africa’s modest 3% share in global GDP, Adesina remains optimistic, pointing out that 10 of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies are African — a statistic that underscores the region’s long-term potential.
From June 22 to 25, more than 1,500 delegates — including African Heads of State, US government officials, and global business leaders — will gather in Luanda.
Co-organized by the Corporate Council on Africa and the Angolan government, the summit will spotlight investment opportunities and partnerships, with the future of the Lobito Corridor likely to dominate discussions.
Yet as the summit begins, many African leaders remain wary.
The current US posture may not only jeopardize bilateral projects but also prompt deeper engagement with alternative partners such as China, as Washington’s retreat leaves strategic gaps across the continent.
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