Africell, the U.S.-owned mobile network operator in Africa on Thursday January 25, 2024, welcomed U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken to its Luanda office in Angola during his official visit to Angola. The visit underscored the growing economic and political engagement between the United States and Africa, particularly in the Southern African ‘Lobito Corridor’ region.
Secretary Blinken’s trip included stops in Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria, reflecting the United States’ commitment to strengthen partnerships on the continent. The visit to Africell’s headquarters in Luanda showcased the company’s role as a key player in the region’s digital communications landscape.
During the visit, Secretary Blinken engaged with representatives from various American businesses operating in Angola, focusing on technology, energy, consumer goods, and other sectors. He toured Africell’s state-of-the-art data center, a notable achievement in secure technology within the African telecommunications sector. Additionally, he explored 10A, a high-tech gallery and art space dedicated to Angolan creativity and cultural collaboration, established by the Africell Impact Foundation.
Africell’s presence in Angola dating back to April 2022, with its mobile money platform, Afrimoney, garnering nearly five and a half million customers, is equivalent to over 20% of the total market share. The company, also operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, and Gambia, supports both U.S. and local interests by prioritizing secure network infrastructure, generating skilled jobs, promoting financial inclusion through its Afrimoney platform, and sponsoring artistic and cultural exchanges.
Secretary Blinken highlighted the strategic importance of the ‘Lobito Corridor’ in transforming the Southern African region into an attractive destination for U.S. and international investors, particularly in transportation, clean energy, and telecommunications. The corridor, encompassing Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, serves as a vital link to the Atlantic Ocean and holds transformative potential for the continent and the world.
In his remarks, Secretary Blinken echoed President Joseph Biden’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with Africa, emphasizing the interconnected futures, peoples, and prosperity of the United States and the African continent. He stated, “The United States is committed to working together to solve shared challenges and deliver on the promise and fundamental aspirations of our peoples.”
Ziad Dalloul, CEO, President, and Founder of Africell, expressed gratitude for hosting Secretary Blinken, saying, “Angola is an appealing place to do business, which is why we have invested in building a trusted and secure mobile telecommunications network. Secretary Blinken’s visit proves that the U.S. government has a similarly positive view of Angola’s potential and that of the other countries comprising the Lobito Corridor region.”
Africell remains a key player in the African telecommunications landscape, providing mobile network coverage to almost 20 million subscribers across Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia. As the only U.S.-owned mobile network operator in Africa, Africell continues to contribute to the continent’s social impact, entrepreneurial spirit, and secure technology, positioning itself as the ideal mobile partner for Africa’s future.
