The United States and the African Union (AU) have announced the creation of a joint strategic working group aimed at accelerating investment in key infrastructure sectors across the African continent. The initiative seeks to strengthen economic cooperation between Washington and African countries while supporting priority development projects.

According to information released by both parties, the working group will focus on identifying, coordinating and facilitating infrastructure projects in areas such as energy, transport, digital connectivity, logistics and health. The stated objective is to mobilize increased private-sector investment, particularly from US companies, in alignment with the African Union’s development priorities, including Agenda 2063.

The mechanism will bring together institutional representatives, technical experts and private-sector stakeholders. It is also expected to improve coordination between existing US initiatives and continental African programs, notably those linked to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa.

Beyond its economic dimension, the initiative emerges in a broader geopolitical context marked by growing competition among major global powers for influence in Africa. Over the past decade, China has significantly expanded its footprint on the continent through large-scale infrastructure investments, particularly under the Belt and Road Initiative. In response, the United States has sought to reinforce its engagement by promoting alternative partnership models centered on transparency, sustainability and private-sector participation.

US officials have emphasized that the partnership with the African Union is intended to support Africa’s infrastructure needs rather than directly counter other international actors. African Union representatives, for their part, view the initiative as an opportunity to diversify sources of financing and strengthen the continent’s capacity to implement large-scale, regionally integrated projects.

While operational details of the working group have yet to be fully defined, analysts note that the initiative could influence Africa’s economic and geopolitical landscape over the medium to long term. Its effectiveness, however, will depend on the ability of stakeholders to translate policy commitments into concrete, well-financed projects with measurable impact on the ground.