Silence Charumbira in Luanda, Angola
The US government and business launched a spirited charm offensive on Africa this week with Troy Fitrell, Senior Bureau Official in the Bureau of African Affairs, declaring that US Ambassadors “work for you”.
Fitrell made the remarks during his opening speech on the first day of the US Africa Business Summit in Luanda, Angola.
The picturesque Angola Bay became the front of a new dimension of US “commercial diplomacy” as America fretted from the chaotic effects of the Donald Trump administration’s exclusionary policies.
And on Monday, Fitrell, who led a team of government officials that included presidential adviser, Massad Boulos, declared that the US was changing course from “developmental assistance” to “commercial engagement”.
While Africa woke up to the news that the US had bombed Iran, Fitrell was on a different offensive.
“US ambassadors (across Africa) work for” business in availing and facilitating opportunities, Fitrell told the over 2700 people in attendance.
He stressed a dramatic shift in US diplomatic priorities, stating, “We have changed the incentive structure”.
“This is the primary goal and this is what we judge our ambassadors on. How well they support you. And to our heads of state and government here today, if our ambassadors are not bringing business deals and commercial opportunities and sustainable economic growth to you, ask them why they are not, because they should be with you offering opportunities every day.”
The grand event, set at the picturesque Luanda Bay, was attended by thousands of people from politics, business and media among others.
It drew thousands of delegates from across Africa and beyond and unfolded as Washington sought to reset and deepen ties with the continent’s political and economic leaders—while global headlines focused on US airstrikes in Iran.
“And our embassies, I am talking to you (the) private sector, our embassies work for you.” Fitrell’s remarks were echoed in his official address, in which he asserted, “The United States is committed to a strong partnership with Africa, rooted in mutual respect and shared interests”.
“Our goal is to create opportunities for African and American businesses alike, and to support Africa’s economic growth and integration into global markets.”
Fitrell also addressed concerns over US visa bans for Angolans, saying it was important to differentiate between actual policies and rhetoric.
HYDRO-LINK’s $1.5 billion power project
One of the the summit’s commercial centre-pieces was the $1.5 billion agreement between New York-based HYDRO-LINK and the government of Angola. The project, in partnership with Swiss-headquartered Mitrelli Group, will see the construction of a 1,150-kilometer high-voltage transmission line linking Angola’s surplus hydropower to the mineral-rich, energy-starved Copperbelt region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Paul Hinks, chairperson and CEO of HYDRO-LINK, said: “Angola and the DRC’s minerals are essential commodities in today’s global economy and they drive the technology of the future. Today, the DRC’s mining sector is being constrained by unreliable electricity supplies and together with Mitrelli, HYDRO-LINK will help improve output by providing reliable, affordable power”.
Haim Taib, Founder and president of Menomadin and Mitrelli Group, underscored the broader impact: “This partnership with HYDRO-LINK is a strategic move to jointly advance regional economy and reflects our long-standing commitment to sustainable development in Africa”.
“Beyond enabling trade and industrial growth, we believe infrastructure must serve the people, ensuring that energy access empowers communities, supports local development, and creates new opportunities for the millions living along this vital route in Angola.”
The project is scheduled for completion in 2029 and is expected to promote regional energy integration, provide energy security to the DRC, support the development of industrial hubs for local manufacturing and mineral processing, and create thousands of local construction jobs.
Multilateralism and Tariffs in Focus
Despite the upbeat tone from US officials, there was immediate and candid pushback from African leaders. The heads of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the African Union Commission used the summit’s platform to warn against US tariffs and unilateralism, stressing the need to protect multilateralism and Africa’s adherence to United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) tenets.
The officials said Africa’s commitment to multilateralism should not be undermined by protectionist measures from partners. While Africa valued engagement, it must be on terms that respect collective ambitions of partners and the frameworks built over many years.
The officials also launched a broadside on tariffs which they said were trade barriers that threatened to undo years of progress. The US must therefore recognise Africa’s efforts to build a unified market and support—not hinder—the journey.
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US charm offensive in Luanda: Washington’s high-stakes play at US-Africa Business Summit
Yet the timing of the summit was curious. While Fitrell emphasised, “The United States is here to listen, to learn, and to work together with African partners to address shared challenges and seize new opportunities” and that the US believed “that Africa’s success is our success, and we are committed to supporting Africa’s aspirations for peace, prosperity, and sustainable development”, events elsewhere painted a different picture.
The US charm offensive in Luanda is not just about business deals—it is about strategic positioning. The HYDRO-LINK project is designed to secure critical mineral and rare earth production in the DRC, commodities that are vital for the global tech economy and increasingly the focus of great power competition. By investing in energy infrastructure, the US aims to both support African development and ensure reliable access to resources that underpin the digital and green transitions.
Additionally, the summit saw Angola’s Sovereign Fund and Haim Taib sign the first $100 million commitment to the $1 billion Lobito Corridor Impact Development Platform, further cementing the US-Angola partnership in infrastructure and logistics.
As the summit ended, the mood among African delegates was cautiously optimistic. While the US has made bold promises and committed substantial resources, African leaders are watching closely to see if Washington’s new approach will translate into tangible benefits for the continent—and whether the US will respect Africa’s own priorities and frameworks.
For now, Luanda stands as the stage for a new chapter in US-Africa relations, one defined by commercial diplomacy, strategic investment, and the complex interplay of global power politics.
