US approves Africa investments as it challenges China’s influence

The US approved new investments in Africa aimed at challenging China’s preeminence on the continent. Washington’s bets include $414 million in financing for a uranium project in Niger — a country that expelled all US forces two years ago — and hundreds of millions for digital infrastructure providers.

China has similarly stepped up its presence: Trade between the two rose more than 17% last year to almost $350 billion, and Beijing remains Africa’s biggest source of international investment. US efforts to sway African countries could be undone by fallout from the Iran war, however, which has dealt a harsh blow to economies across the continent by driving up fuel and fertilizer prices.