By Amin Kef Sesay
In a historic move aimed at advancing Africa’s digital transformation, U.S. President Joe Biden has commended Africell Telecommunications Company for its pivotal role in supporting the ambitious Lobito Corridor project. The announcement was made during a landmark summit co-hosted by President Biden and Angolan President João Lourenço on December 4, 2024, in Lobito, Angola.
The high-level summit, which featured leaders from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia and Tanzania, focused on evaluating the progress of the Lobito Corridor initiative. The multilateral project seeks to connect the Atlantic and Indian Oceans through investments in critical infrastructure, including transport, communications and digital services, fostering economic integration and sustainable development.
Africell, the only U.S.-owned mobile network operator in Africa, was recognized for its significant contributions to enhancing digital access and promoting financial inclusion along the corridor. The company’s CEO, Ziad Dalloul, alongside Afrimoney Angola Director, Kátia da Conceição, briefed the attending heads of state on Africell’s efforts to provide fast and secure mobile and fintech services to communities along the corridor.
Speaking at the summit, Ziad Dalloul emphasized Africell’s unique role in Africa’s digital evolution. “We are proud to be the digital partner for the Lobito Corridor,” Ziad Dalloul declared, addressing President Biden, President Lourenço, President Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC, President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia and Tanzanian Vice President Dr. Philip Mpango.
Ziad Dalloul highlighted Africell’s collaboration with the U.S. Government and other stakeholders, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), to introduce mobile money solutions to agricultural workers in Angola. By using mobile money, these workers are now able to increase their earnings, save more and achieve greater financial security.
Additionally, the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) has committed $100 million in preliminary financing to support Africell’s network expansion in Angola and the DRC. This investment is set to bring millions more people within the reach of 3G, 4G and 5G mobile coverage, significantly enhancing access to digital connectivity in the region.
Africell’s work aligns with the U.S. Government’s Digital Transformation with Africa (DTA) initiative, which aims to establish secure and inclusive internet infrastructure on the continent. Unlike many of its competitors, Africell’s network in Angola is built exclusively with trusted Western technology, ensuring both security and efficiency.
Afrimoney Angola Director, Kátia da Conceição, outlined the strategic role of Afrimoney, Africell’s mobile money platform, in promoting financial inclusion for millions of consumers in Angola and the DRC. “Financial inclusion is the natural counterpart to digital access,” she stated.
Kátia da Conceição noted that Afrimoney provides customers with safe, user-friendly tools for saving, earning and managing money. She highlighted how these solutions are empowering local communities and contributing to the broader economic development goals of the Lobito Corridor initiative.
“Sharing Afrimoney’s impact with leaders from the U.S., Angola, DRC, Zambia and Tanzania was a moment of pride for our team,” da Conceição remarked.
Africell’s contributions to the Lobito Corridor extend beyond telecommunications. In mid-2024, the company commissioned an adventure documentary titled Lobito Bound, which follows British explorer Dwayne Fields on a 4,000-kilometer journey by road and rail from Tanzania to Angola.
Scheduled for release in early 2025, the film aims to showcase the human impact and economic significance of the Lobito Corridor. The production seeks to engage a global audience and highlight the transformative potential of this transcontinental project.
President Biden’s visit to Angola was historic, marking the first visit by a sitting U.S. President to Angola and the first U.S. Presidential visit to Sub-Saharan Africa since 2015. According to the White House, the trip aimed to “celebrate the transformation and deepening of the U.S.-Angola relationship” while spotlighting the progress made in the Lobito Corridor initiative.
The summit underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening economic ties with Africa and advancing regional initiatives that promote trade, connectivity and sustainable development.
With its strategic investments in telecommunications infrastructure and financial inclusion, Africell is cementing its role as a key driver of the Lobito Corridor’s success. By combining technological innovation with impactful public-private partnerships, the company is shaping a brighter future for communities across Africa.
As the Lobito Corridor continues to evolve, Africell’s contributions to digital access, financial inclusion and awareness-building underscore its commitment to sustainable development in Africa. The recognition from President Biden and other African leaders at the summit highlights Africell’s role as a model for successful public-private collaboration on the continent.
