**President Biden Embarks on Visit to Angola to Fulfill Commitment to Africa**
President Biden departed for Angola on Sunday, fulfilling his promise to visit Africa during his term and focusing on a major railway project supported by the United States. The project aims to counter China’s control over key resources in Africa.
According to Reuters, the project, partially funded by U.S. loans, will connect resource-rich Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia to the Atlantic port of Lobito in Angola, providing a fast and efficient route for exports to the West.
Two officials from Trump’s first term indicated that while Biden’s visit comes towards the end of his presidency, Trump may still support the railway project and remain a close partner to Angola in January next year.
Tibor Nagy, who served as the U.S. Ambassador to Africa during Trump’s first term, suggested that Trump’s main concerns for Africa are competition with China and Russia, as well as access to key minerals. The Lobito Atlantic Railway project addresses both of these considerations.
The project has received support from global commodity trader Trafigura, Portuguese construction group Mota-Engil, and railway operator Vecturis. The U.S. Development Finance Corporation provided a $550 million loan for the refurbishment of a 1,300-kilometer (800-mile) railway network from Lobito to the Congo.
President Biden is scheduled to make a brief stop in the West African country of Cape Verde on Monday, where he will meet with the President of Cape Verde before heading to Angola. During his two-day visit, he will visit the National Slavery Museum in Luanda, the capital of Angola, and will make a stop at Lobito Port on Wednesday.
Angola has maintained close relations with both China and Russia for a long time, but has recently leaned towards the West. Angolan officials expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with partners who can advance their economic growth agenda and hope the project will stimulate investment in various industries.
Biden’s visit reflects a turning point in the relationship between the U.S. and Angola after a complex and violent history.
Officials from the Biden administration view the Lobito Railway project as a pilot project to demonstrate the feasibility of public-private partnerships, and hope it will drive forward other major infrastructure projects in Africa. They also aim to deepen U.S.-Angola relations, including in the realm of security cooperation.
The Congo is rich in minerals such as copper and cobalt, which are crucial components of batteries and other electronic products. China’s increasing presence in the Congo has raised concerns in the U.S.
In September of this year, China signed an agreement with Tanzania and Zambia to restore a railway line leading to the East African coast.
Judd Devermont, former Senior Africa Advisor to Biden, stated, “The Congolese are very clear that they don’t want to see the entire mining sector dominated by China.” He added, “If there is a simple way to traverse the African continent, whether it’s important minerals or just moving goods from India to Brazil to New York, it will benefit everyone.”