The African Union (AU) and the United States have agreed to establish a U.S.–African Union Strategic Infrastructure and Investment Working Group (SIWG) aimed at deepening economic cooperation and strengthening long-term relations between both parties.
The decision was announced in a joint statement issued by the U.S. Government and the African Union Commission on Wednesday.
According to the statement, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, met with African Union Commission Chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, in Addis Ababa, where both sides reaffirmed the strategic importance of the U.S.–Africa partnership anchored on the African Union.
They agreed that sustained economic growth remains central to achieving peace, stability and prosperity across the African continent.
The statement noted that the development of high-quality, trade-enabling infrastructure is a critical step toward advancing economic growth, in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and its flagship initiatives, including the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) priority corridors and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
To this end, both parties agreed to formally establish the U.S.–AUC Strategic Infrastructure and Investment Working Group.
The working group is expected to promote and expand U.S.–Africa economic partnerships that generate employment, enhance prosperity and strengthen economic security in both Africa and the United States.
The SIWG will serve as a collaborative platform bringing together senior officials and technical experts from the U.S. government and the African Union Commission.
Its mandate includes identifying and advancing opportunities for U.S. private sector investment in AU-supported infrastructure projects and related initiatives.
The group will also work to advance shared strategic priorities of the U.S., the AU, its member states and Africa’s Regional Economic Communities by supporting trade and logistics infrastructure, as well as continent-wide digital transformation.
According to the statement, planned investments will combine the African Union’s convening power and regional expertise with U.S. capital and innovative financing tools to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals and commodities.
The initiatives are also expected to support the development of transportation corridors, energy networks and regulatory harmonisation across the continent.
Additionally, the partnership aims to expand two-way trade, enhance secure digital infrastructure and improve health security, contributing to greater safety and prosperity for both Americans and Africans.
The statement added that as both sides seek sustainable, profit-driven investments to achieve economic objectives beyond traditional foreign aid, the SIWG will lay the foundation for long-term strategic economic cooperation that will shape U.S.–Africa relations in the years ahead.