Zambia has rejected a proposed US funding package worth more than $1 billion, saying the conditions attached do not align with its national interests.
The move places Zambia alongside Zimbabwe, which recently declined a similar $367-million agreement under the administration of Donald Trump.
According to Reuters, the draft agreement would have seen the United States provide over $1 billion, while Zambia contributed approximately $340 million over five years. The deal, initially expected to be signed in November, was delayed over disputed clauses and has now been rejected pending amendments.
A Zambian Ministry of Health spokesperson said the draft “did not align with the position and interests” of Zambia. While officials suggested the disagreement was not directly linked to mineral resources, Washington had previously indicated the funding would involve collaboration in Zambia’s mining sector.
Zambia is Africa’s second-largest copper producer after the Democratic Republic of the Congo and holds significant reserves of cobalt, nickel, manganese, graphite, lithium, and rare-earth elements.
The Trump administration’s “America First” foreign policy approach has emphasised transactional partnerships, stating US funding should not be treated as charity. Critics argue that some agreements require access to critical minerals and sensitive health data.
At least 16 African nations — including Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya — have reportedly signed similar agreements, although Kenya’s deal has been suspended due to a court challenge.
The debate has sparked broader discussions across Africa about sovereignty, data protection, and the continent’s reliance on foreign funding despite its vast natural resources.
SOURCE : TRT AFRICA
