MONTROVIA – The Trump administration is adopting a new commercial diplomatic strategy for sub-Saharan Africa. Ambassador Troy Phitrell, representing the US State Department of Africa Bureau, said at a briefing Tuesday.
“We have been defined for decades by a support-driven paradigm, and we have shifted it very directly and very intentionally towards an investment-driven strategy,” Phytrell told reporters after a week’s visit to West Africa.
The US ambassador for the region is tasked with “getting out and finding commercial opportunities” and “finding opportunities to advocate for American businesses.” The envoy is responsible for identifying market reforms “necessary to strengthen the business environment” and engagement with the government in implementing it. He said new US policies are expected to attract private sector actors and “galvanize the local economy.”
Last week in Abidjan, Phitrell joined the African CEO Forum, co-hosted by June Africa Media Group and International Finance Corporation, addressed to the US Chamber of Commerce in 2025, organized by the US Embassy and the US Chamber of Commerce.
“For too long, we have prioritized development support over promoting US commercial involvement in Africa,” Ambassador Phitrell said in his speech, saying the future focus is “trade, not aid.”
The strategy has “a central focus of US-Africa engagement and has “already evaluated the US business and the number of transactions they promote” with the US ambassador.
The second measure in the strategy is to “work with African government partners in priority countries to implement the top five market reforms identified by the private sector.” The third part of the strategy is to “provide lasting benefits by building sustainable, high-quality infrastructure” and “commercially viable and attractive US business.”
The fourth is a commercial diplomatic trip “shaped by the private sector” with private sector participation. “We must do more to companies that are not yet doing business on the continent, especially to those that are not yet doing business in order to connect more US companies to African opportunities,” Fitrell said in Abidjan’s remarks. “That’s our fifth action, linking around 300,000 export-ready US companies and a more share of the US capital market of $120 trillion to the African continent.”
The sixth action was to “advocate for structural reforms to US trade promotion, project preparation and funding tools.”
In February, the Trump administration withdrew more than 90% of foreign aid contracts by USAID, the leading US foreign aid agency. This cuts down nearly US$60 billion in overall aid, affecting the region’s humanitarian and development assistance programs. A variety of sectors are being affected by the movement, including key funding for health and the population affected by the war.
Tuesday’s briefing – in response to Alaflica’s questions – Fitrell admits it is boosting its future administration’s priorities in recent years. “Washington absolutely loves rhyming slogans, so “trade, not aid” is only being loaned to it. “The difference is that the administration “actually practices it and uses an investment-driven approach to “promoting the exchange between equality.”
HR said that engaging with the region will lead to more work and the development of the middle class. “In the first 100 days of the administration, there have been 33 new deals, over $6 billion,” including some signed in Abidjan last week.
The business summit brought together the US Chamber of Commerce from all over West Africa, and was the first for many US companies to “have a real focus on French-speaking countries.” “The new Abidjan-based office will enable the use of a variety of tools in the US government tool chest, along with French speakers from the Development Finance Department,” she said.
Called to cite projects attracting significant US investments, Fitrell cited the Lobit Corridor, a multi-billion railway project connecting Congo, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Angola with the Port of Reut in Angola. Phytrell, a top priority for the Biden administration, acknowledged concerns about whether support for the initiative will continue. “The answer is absolute, overwhelming yes. That’s exactly what we want to do.”
Addressing questions about Africa’s Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is the basis of US economic relations with dozens of African countries – phytrell – who called himself a “big fan” of the agreement – said Agoa’s future future depends on the US Congress. “My expectations are that if Agoa updates are made, it will probably reflect the modern world, not the first 25 years old.”
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Phytrell was also asked about his presentation at Abidjan. Another US African Leader Summit is scheduled for the second half of this year, saying, “I was shot dead in North America in the fall.” The final summit was held in Washington, DC in December 2022 by President Biden.
Asked about the discussion of peace talks between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, Phitrell said, “We want to move quickly.” He said various ongoing initiatives are in harmony to resolve the conflict. “There’s an incredible amount of work going on behind the scenes,” and it can coordinate among all parties and move forward “quickly” towards an agreement. The conflict affects not only Dr. Congo and Dr. Rwanda, but also all neighboring states: Burundi, Uganda, Angola and Zimbabwe. “We need a peace agreement in this region,” Fitrell said.
Edited by Reed Kramer of Washington, DC.
