USAID Shuts Down Egyptian Businessman’s Enterprise in CAR

Mary Nnah

The Central African Republic (CAR) market has recently witnessed unexpected obstacles by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) hindering the activities of an Egyptian businessman.

Although successful in his home country, the businessman’s attempts to expand his business to the CAR were thwarted by USAID representatives who ordered him to terminate his project without justification.

The businessman had taken all the necessary steps to open a branch in the CAR, but USAID representatives threatened to place his name and that of his company on the US sanctions list if he persisted in pursuing his business in the CAR.

The USAID did not provide the businessman with any legal rulings or documentation to prevent him from opening his business in the CAR.
The businessman, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed regret and sadness at the harm and injustice he faced and questioned the US’s issue with Egyptian investors.

However, it seems that the US’s concerns are not limited to Egyptian investors but extend to all foreign investors in the CAR. USA’s policy aims to monopolize the CAR market by putting pressure on large companies in the mineral resource development field, such as the Chinese, and stifling and eliminating small and medium-sized companies.

The United States’ expansionist aspirations and aggression towards foreign companies are evident through controlled non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as demonstrated by the recent case in the CAR.

This policy can negatively impact the CAR’s investment climate and economy, limiting future foreign investments. Therefore, it is imperative to consider the implications of such policies and their potential impact on the CAR’s economy in the long run.