Biden Visits Angola to Bolster Ties, Promote Strategic Investments
U.S. President Joe Biden arrived in Angola on Monday night for a two-day visit, his first and only trip to sub-Saharan Africa during his presidency. The visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and advancing the U.S.-supported Lobito Corridor project, which seeks to rehabilitate a vital railway linking the mineral-rich Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to the Angolan port of Lobito. This initiative is seen as a strategic counter to China’s growing influence in the region.
To mark Biden’s visit, the Angolan government declared December 3 and 4 public holidays and implemented heightened security measures in Luanda, the nation’s capital. Biden’s schedule included talks with President João Lourenço and a visit to the National Slavery Museum. On Wednesday, he plans to travel to Lobito to further discuss the Lobito Corridor, which has been funded by the U.S., the European Union, and other international partners.
The Lobito Corridor is considered a game-changer for U.S. engagement in Africa. John Kirby, the White House national security communications advisor, described the project as pivotal to promoting a secure, prosperous, and economically stable Africa. It is part of a larger geopolitical rivalry with China, which has extensive mining investments in the DRC and Zambia and is funding a competing railway project aimed at transporting resources to a Tanzanian port.
African governments, including Angola, are seeking alternatives to Chinese financing, driven by concerns over mounting debt. Angola, for example, owes China $17 billion, or 40% of its total debt. The U.S. has emphasized that it is not asking countries to choose between the U.S., China, or Russia, but instead aims to offer reliable, sustainable investment opportunities that will benefit Angola and the broader continent.
Biden’s visit has also drawn attention to human rights issues in Angola. Amnesty International recently reported that at least 17 protesters were killed by Angolan police between November 2020 and June 2023 and called for the release of five government critics who have been detained for over a year. Angola’s long history, marked by a civil war that lasted from 1975 to 2002, continues to shape its political landscape. Although the MPLA government remains in power, there is a clear push to diversify partnerships beyond China and Russia.
Biden’s visit underscores the U.S.’s efforts to deepen ties with Angola, an oil-rich nation of 37 million people. The success of the Lobito Corridor project could redefine U.S.-Africa relations, providing a sustainable alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative and helping to integrate Angola further into the global economy.
