Outgoing US President Joe Biden embarks on a landmark trip to Angola this week, fulfilling his 2022 pledge to visit sub-Saharan Africa. This three-day visit to the oil-rich nation not only marks the first by a US president since Angola’s independence in 1975 but also underscores America’s strategic interest in Africa to counter China’s growing influence.
Biden’s agenda in Luanda includes discussions on public health, agriculture, cultural preservation, and military cooperation with Angolan President João Lourenço. Central to his visit is the “Lobito Corridor” rail project, linking Angola’s Lobito port to key mining regions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. The project, jointly funded by the US and EU, aims to secure critical raw materials like cobalt for global tech manufacturing.
While Biden’s trip seeks to boost economic ties and counter China’s sway, human rights advocates urge him to address Angola’s troubling record, including reported crackdowns on dissent and arbitrary detentions.
With Biden’s tenure ending soon, questions remain about whether US engagement in Africa will continue under the incoming Trump administration.
