Zambia Halts Talks on Billion-Dollar US Deals Over Mineral, Data-Sharing Demands
Al Jazeera English
Zambia has suspended talks with the U.S. over billions in health and mineral agreements, calling Washington's demands unacceptable and a violation of national sovereignty. The health deal was halted over data-sharing concerns, and the minerals pact stalled due to demands for preferential treatment for American firms.
On October 28, Zambian Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe announced the government had paused negotiations with the U.S. on bilateral agreements in health and mining. According to Haimbe, the deals stalled because Washington’s terms were deemed “unacceptable” and demanded preferential treatment.
A health agreement, under which the U.S. proposed up to $2 billion in aid over five years, was suspended due to “terms the Zambian government considers unacceptable.” In particular, Zambia objected to U.S. data-sharing demands, which it said would violate the “civil rights” of its citizens.
A separate strategic minerals agreement was also delayed because the U.S. insisted that American companies receive preferential treatment. Zambia is Africa’s second-largest copper producer and holds significant reserves of other minerals.
Minister Haimbe also voiced concerns about the U.S. wanting to “bundle the two deals” together, making the health agreement contingent on the outcome of the minerals deal. “The Zambian government has consistently insisted that the agreements be evaluated separately on their own merits,” Haimbe emphasized.
Earlier, on October 24, outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Lusaka Michael Gonzales expressed concerns about Zambia’s anti-corruption efforts and structural issues related to U.S. health assistance. However, Minister Haimbe rejected these allegations, asserting that bilateral relations are not based on aid but on strong, evolving strategic cooperation.
Health activists had previously warned that the health agreement tied funding to mineral extraction rights and posed data-sharing risks. Earlier, the Zambian government had only indicated that certain terms of the agreement did not align with national interests.
Zambia now joins a list of African nations, including Ghana and Zimbabwe, in rejecting Washington’s demands, particularly regarding data sharing. Many other African countries have signed memoranda of understanding under the U.S. aid approach during the administration of President Donald Trump.
