President Joe Biden’s long-anticipated visit to Africa begins this week, marking his first trip to the continent as president. The visit aims to showcase the Lobito Corridor, a US-backed $2.5 billion railway redevelopment spanning Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The project is positioned as a cornerstone of Biden’s broader strategy to counter China’s dominance in Africa, particularly in the critical minerals sector vital for electric vehicles and clean energy technologies.
The Lobito Corridor railway, extending 800 miles, represents a strategic move by the United States to strengthen its presence in Africa. Long overshadowed by Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has poured billions into African infrastructure, the US hopes this project signals a shift toward greater economic engagement.
“This is one of the flagships for the G7’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, driven by President Biden,” said Tom Sheehy of the United States Institute of Peace. The initiative aims to provide alternatives to China’s expansive Belt and Road strategy while fostering partnerships in developing nations.
Africa’s Growing Importance For US And China
The Lobito Corridor is designed to link Zambia’s and Congo’s rich copper and cobalt mines to Angola’s Atlantic port, streamlining the export of critical minerals.
These resources are essential for global industries, yet China has long dominated the supply chains in Zambia and Congo. With Congo alone accounting for over 70% of the world’s cobalt reserves, much of which flows to China, the US faces a daunting challenge.
“This project goes some way to blunting China,” said Christian-Géraud Neema, an analyst of China-Africa relations. “As long as they keep labeling Lobito one of the main anti-China tools in Africa, there is a certain likelihood that it’s going to keep being funded.”
While the railway is still years from completion, its geopolitical significance has bipartisan support in Washington.
Even the incoming administration of Donald Trump is likely to continue funding the initiative, particularly as countering China remains a key focus of US foreign policy.
The visit, delayed twice due to Hurricane Milton and other scheduling conflicts, underscores a perception among some African leaders that the continent remains a low priority for the US The last sitting US president to visit Africa was Barack Obama in 2015, adding to the impression of neglect.
“Africa never gets top attention,” said Witney Schniedman of the Brookings Institution. However, Biden’s trip aims to reverse this sentiment, with the Lobito project serving as a symbol of renewed US commitment to the region.
In Angola, Biden is expected to announce new partnerships in health, agribusiness, and security cooperation, alongside updates on the Lobito Corridor. Frances Brown, a senior director for African affairs at the National Security Council, emphasized that the visit will “highlight the remarkable evolution of the US-Angola relationship.”
However, Biden’s trip has not been without criticism. International rights groups have pointed to Angola’s authoritarian turn under President João Lourenço, citing political imprisonments, alleged torture, and laws restricting freedoms.
These issues place Washington’s value-based diplomacy under scrutiny, as the US deepens ties with Angola, which it once opposed during the Cold War.
US Diplomatic Wins In Africa
The Lobito project became possible after a Western-led consortium won the bid to redevelop the railway in 2022, beating out Chinese competition. This marked a diplomatic victory for the Biden administration, particularly given Angola’s historically strong ties with Beijing, which had financed a previous railway redevelopment.
Over the past three decades, US-Angola relations have transformed from hostility during Angola’s civil war to growing cooperation. Trade between the two nations reached $1.77 billion last year, and Angola has played a role in mediating regional conflicts, further elevating its strategic importance.
Despite these gains, challenges remain. Biden’s trip must contend with African leaders’ shifting focus to Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House. “President Biden is no longer the story,” said Mvemba Dizolele of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “Even African leaders are focused on Donald Trump.”
As Biden highlights the Lobito Corridor and related initiatives, the broader question is whether this visit represents a lasting shift in US-Africa relations or a fleeting moment in a long-neglected partnership.
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