About 40 kilometers from Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, construction vehicles are shuttling back and forth, and workers wearing safety helmets are rushing to complete the work. What they are building is the Bissauftu International Airport in Ethiopia.
This project officially started in January this year, with a total investment of approximately 12.5 billion US dollars. The aim is to create the largest aviation hub in Africa.
According to the plan, Bishofu International Airport will have four runways. The first phase of construction is expected to be completed in 2030. By then, the airport’s annual passenger throughput will reach 60 million passengers. Once fully completed, this number is expected to increase to 110 million passengers per year.
As important participants in the construction of large-scale infrastructure projects in Africa, Chinese companies such as China Communications Construction Company Limited, China Road and Bridge Corporation, and Beijing Urban Construction are among those that have won contracts and are currently involved in the construction of this airport project.
But now, the United States also wants to get involved.
According to a report by British Reuters on July 29th, as part of the United States' efforts to strengthen infrastructure and investment in Africa and to compete with other major powers such as China, the Trump administration is actively promoting American companies to participate in the Bissau-Tu International Airport project.
On the 29th local time, Mark Mitchell, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Middle East and Africa Affairs of the U.S. Department of Commerce, participated in the ‘Africa Logistics and Communications Symposium’ held in Addis Ababa via video conference. He stated that the U.S. government is ‘actively promoting efforts to ensure U.S. involvement’ in this project.
Mitchell revealed that he had previously met with officials from Ethiopian Airlines, who are in charge of leading the airport construction project. He also expressed to the Ethiopian side the United States’ desire for domestic companies to participate in this $12.5 billion super-airport project.
Although Mitchell did not disclose the specific ways in which American companies will be involved, he mentioned that the project could potentially lead to “more Boeing aircraft powered by General Electric Aerospace Company engines” in the future. Additionally, Mitchell said that the U.S. Department of Commerce is seeking to strengthen cooperation with the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Research Institute in order to promote the export of U.S. artificial intelligence technology and expand markets overseas.
Mitchell's statement is seen by the outside world as an important signal of the United States' attempt to intervene in the Bissaufo Airport project.
According to the African edition of the US website 'Business Insider', it has been argued that for a long time, China has held a dominant position in Ethiopia's infrastructure sector through investments in railways, industrial parks, and transportation networks. Now, the United States also wishes to ensure that American companies can have a place in these projects.
Bishovot Airport project might be a key breakthrough point.
Bishofo International Airport Project Rendering
For Ethiopia, Bishoftu Airport is not only a significant transportation infrastructure project, but also plays a key role in its efforts to become an aviation hub in Africa. The Ethiopian government has repeatedly described this project as “Africa’s Dubai,” hoping that through the construction of this new airport, Ethiopia can be transformed into an important aviation and logistics gateway connecting Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
In April of this year, CNN reported that Addis Ababa is already one of Africa's important aviation hubs. However, the existing Bole International Airport is rapidly approaching its capacity limits, and there is no room for further expansion.
In contrast, Bissau Airport will primarily serve transit passengers in the future, which is expected to further enhance Ethiopia’s position in Africa’s aviation network. Additionally, the airport is expected to handle 3.73 million tons of cargo per year, which could unlock the potential of African air cargo transportation and provide infrastructure support for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a crucial economic cooperation mechanism in Africa.
"U.S. Arizona State University's Thunderbird Global Management Institute Executive Dean, Landry Signé, stated that currently, African airlines cargo demand growth rate is ranked first globally with a year-on-year increase of 15%-16%, significantly exceeding the global average of 5.5%. "
Ethiopian Airways, the company leading the construction of the Bosifo Airport project, is one of Africa's largest airlines. It ranks first in Africa in terms of aircraft fleet size, number of routes, and passenger traffic. The company's CEO, Mesfin Tasew, told CNN that they hope to make the new airport "Africa's Dubai or Doha," a regional aviation hub with strong international connectivity capabilities.
To facilitate the implementation of the project, Ethiopian Airlines plans to invest 30% of the equity funds to cover part of the project costs. Regarding the remaining funds, the African Development Bank has promised to provide $500 million, and is leading the effort to raise another $8.7 billion in funding. Currently, reports indicate that the United States, China, and Italy have all participated in discussions regarding financing arrangements.
The African edition of the 'Business Insider' website believes that the interest shown by various parties in the Chibouco Airport project indicates that large-scale infrastructure projects are becoming a new arena of global power competition. China has long been dominant in financing and building large-scale infrastructure projects in Africa, while in recent years, the United States has been trying to expand its commercial presence in areas such as aviation, logistics, and advanced technologies in Africa.
On July 1st, the website of the American magazine Forbes pointed out that Ethiopia is an important "barometer" for observing investment trends in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ethiopia has abundant natural resources, but it has not developed into a typical resource-dependent economy. The country's economy is diversified, with manufacturing, agriculture, services, mining, and technology industries all playing roles in economic development. Ethiopia has a population of over 135 million, and its capital, Addis Ababa, is increasingly becoming an important political and economic center that influences the Horn of Africa and the entire African continent.
Reports indicate that over the past few decades, the United States, the former Soviet Union, and later China have invested substantial political and economic resources in Ethiopia. Although the methods differ, these countries have regarded Ethiopia as an important pivot for expanding their influence in Africa. “Historical developments show that the next phase of investment in Africa begins here.”
The United States’ attempt to participate in the Beşof Tüp Airport project is part of its adjustment of its strategy in Africa.
According to an article published in the 'American Observation' column of the Strategic and Security Research Center at Tsinghua University in September 2025, as a key arena of great-power competition, the Trump administration is pushing forward with a policy adjustment towards Africa that bears a strong personal stamp.
The article argues that Trump and his team have broken the long-standing consensus among the two parties in the United States regarding Africa’s policy, leading to a shift in U.S. foreign policy towards Africa towards a more “selective approach”.
Compared to the Biden administration’s “All in on Africa” strategy of engaging with Africa, the Trump second administration tends to prioritize building ties with countries that align with U.S. interests. These include resource-based nations like Congo (DR Congo) and Zambia, regional powers such as Nigeria, as well as geopolitical strongholds like Djibouti.
This strategy continues Trump’s approach during his first term, which involved using American funds for key countries and specific strategic goals, by differentiating in terms of attracting or suppressing African nations.
For example, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has maintained communication with important African countries such as Kenya and Angola, emphasizing cooperation between the two sides in regional security matters. At the same time, the Trump administration has also pressured some African countries by restricting visas and cutting aid.
The above analysis indicates that the Trump administration, despite opposition from federal courts and Congress, has reorganized traditional agencies supporting Africa and cut back on related programs, which may weaken the long-term influence that the United States has accumulated in Africa. It attempts to reduce policy costs through targeted investments, but some tough measures might also harm the long-term interests of the United States.
For example, the US measures of pressure against South Africa not only affect bilateral relations but may also weaken South Africa’s role as an important African trade and knowledge hub, a gateway for the US into the African market.
The article states that this trend may objectively create opportunities for China to expand cooperation with Africa. By taking advantage of the United States’ actions that despise and demonize Africa, China can further strengthen relations between China and Africa by supporting African nations, thereby promoting the development of a new era of a global community of shared future for China and Africa.
However, at the same time, a strategic reduction of involvement in Africa by the United States could also lead to increased hostile exclusion and competitive substitution between China and the US in areas such as energy, minerals, and infrastructure in Africa. In recent years, the United States has tried to use its advantages in rule-making, technical standards, and supply chain review to influence market rules in Africa. For example, through agencies like the Trade Development Agency, the US promotes global procurement partnerships with African countries, embedding relevant standards into local procurement systems. This could increase the hidden costs for Chinese companies competing in African projects.
However, James Barnett, a researcher at the conservative think tank Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) in the United States, previously wrote that the US non-strategic approach to Africa has been tied to competition with China. Washington has long regarded Africa as a key arena for competing with China for influence. However, this “China-centered” policy framework is weakening the US’s ability to establish genuine partnerships with Africa.
In his view, American policy discussions often focus on China’s presence in infrastructure and investment sectors, while ignoring the actual needs of African countries in industrialization, employment, and economic transformation. The article emphasizes that if the United States continues to prioritize containing China rather than focusing on African development priorities, it will not only fail to gain local trust but may also weaken its long-term strategic effectiveness in Africa.
