President Joe Biden arrived in Angola yesterday morning marking his first presidential visit ever in Subsaharan Africa. This is done by strengthening the U.S.-Africa bonds and also boosting $3 billion funded by the U.S. into redeveloping the Lobito Corridor railway project.
A landmark initiative to re-develop a railway connecting Zambia, DRC mineral-producing regions directly to Angola’s port Lobito on the Atlantic coast. This corridor is meant to facilitate the export of two critical minerals-cobalt and copper-for electric vehicles as well as clean energy technology.
Biden held talks with Angolan President João Lourenço during his visit to the capital, Luanda. He also participated in a ceremony at the National Slavery Museum. There, he noted that the transatlantic slave trade was the common past between the U.S. and Angola.
“This project embodies a common dream for economic growth and sustainable development,” Biden said, as the U.S. promised to invest in Africa’s future to keep up with China’s expanding footprint on the continent.
Such a development also increases the challenge to U.S. efforts in Africa as China dominates Africa’s critical minerals sector with vast investments. The G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment has framed the Lobito Corridor as a strategic response to such developments.
His visit will also hope to re-establish diplomatic ties with the U.S., as it has been berated for treating Africa lightly. From its focus on trade and security, then humanitarian, Biden’s visit signifies a change to broader collaboration along the lines of infrastructure and economics.
While Biden’s tenure ends in January, his administration hopes that the import of this project will allow bipartisan support to continue under the next president. “This initiative is more geopolitics; it’s about establishing reliable partnerships for Africa’s future,” National Security Spokesperson John Kirby said.
The three-day visit by President Biden signifies a renewed focus on U.S.-Africa relations in terms of mutual growth and cooperation.
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