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During his final overseas trip in office, President Biden will visit Angola to explore the country’s history and economic potential. He plans to visit a slavery museum and highlight a rail corridor that aligns with his administration’s goals in the region.
Written by Zolan Kanno-Youngs
Zolan Kanno-Youngs is a journalist who reports on the White House and will be accompanying President Biden on Air Force One for his trip to Angola.
President Biden will start his planned trip to Africa on Sunday evening by going to Angola to address the historical tensions between the two countries and discuss plans for future economic development and investment.
The visit to Africa by Mr. Biden marks the first time an American president has traveled to the continent since Barack Obama visited Kenya and Ethiopia in 2015.
Mr. Biden is currently on his final international trip as President, which he promised to do in 2022 to show his support for Africa’s future. Despite some delays, he is now visiting Angola for three days. During his visit, he will tour a slavery museum and highlight a rail corridor that his administration sees as a key part of their economic strategy in the region.
A project called the Lobito Corridor, with a budget of $1 billion, is being planned to connect Angola with Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These countries are known for having abundant critical minerals that are essential for making batteries for smartphones and electric vehicles. President Biden is promoting this project to strengthen American access to these important resources in Africa and to counter China’s increasing influence on the continent.
Even though the Biden administration has made efforts to build friendly relationships, experts in foreign policy believe that the United States is still falling behind China and Russia in terms of economic and security influence in Africa.
Tibor P. Nagy Jr., a former ambassador to Africa appointed by both President Bill Clinton and the Trump administration, expressed that since the disengagement with post-colonial Africa, it has not been a priority for the United States. He criticized administrations for creating ambitious African strategies that lack substance, comparing it to a misleading advertisement without any real substance.
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