Huawei at the Center of U.S.-China Tech Rivalry in Africa

A new round of tensions has erupted between the United States and China over Huawei’s growing influence in Africa’s telecommunications sector. China has criticized U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman for claiming that African nations using Huawei technology are “giving up their sovereignty,” accusing Washington of undermining its relations with the continent. The dispute highlights the intensifying geopolitical competition between the two powers for influence in Africa’s digital infrastructure.

The U.S. accuses Huawei of enabling Chinese intelligence agencies to access user data—an allegation Beijing repeatedly denies. In 2019, Washington imposed sanctions on Huawei, disrupting its access to key components and preventing tech giants such as Google from partnering with the company. Despite this, Huawei has continued to expand across Africa and now leads the global 5G market with over 31% market share, providing infrastructure in countries such as South Africa, Angola, and Ethiopia.

Concerns over data security have persisted. A 2019 report suggested that Vodafone identified potential vulnerabilities in Huawei equipment in Italy in 2011. Additionally, in 2018, the African Union discovered a data breach at its headquarters—constructed by China—where information was allegedly being transmitted to servers in Shanghai, raising suspicions of Chinese espionage.

Although no definitive public evidence confirms Huawei shares private data with the Chinese government, the issue has become a core battleground in U.S.-China competition. Sherman’s remarks followed her visit to Africell’s newly launched operations in Angola. Africell, a UK-based telecom operator with strong U.S. ties, is heavily supported by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), which invested $150 million in its Angolan launch and extended a $100 million loan for broader African expansion. Africell’s 5G-ready network is positioned as a direct competitor to systems built with Huawei technology.

China has long viewed Africa as central to its “Digital Silk Road” strategy, aiming to expand the presence of Chinese telecommunications, digital platforms, and e-commerce. However, it is increasingly evident that the United States now considers Africa a key front in its broader effort to counter China’s global influence.

As the race for technological dominance intensifies, Africa’s telecom sector is becoming a strategic battleground. African governments may find opportunities to leverage this rivalry to their advantage, negotiating better terms and investments from both sides.