Africa’s diplomatic stake in a divided Washington

The early months of 2026 witnessed a quiet gold rush in Washington’s lobbying corridors, where African governments opened their checkbooks with unusual urgency. Nigeria signed a $9 million contract with the Republican-linked DCI Group to soften congressional criticism over religious violence. Angola rehired Squire Patton Boggs on a $3.75 million annual retainer to rebuild its commercial profile after years of…