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During his final overseas trip as president, Biden will visit Angola to explore the country’s history and economic opportunities. His agenda includes a visit to a slavery museum and showcasing a rail corridor that aligns with his administration’s regional strategy.
Written by Zolan Kanno-Youngs
Zolan Kanno-Youngs is a journalist who reports on the activities at the White House. He will be accompanying President Biden on Air Force One for a trip to Angola.
President Biden is set to start his much-anticipated trip to Africa on Sunday evening by visiting Angola. The purpose of the visit is to recognize the difficult past between the two countries and to show a commitment to future economic partnerships.
The visit to Africa by Mr. Biden is the initial one by a US president since Barack Obama journeyed to Kenya and Ethiopia in the year 2015.
Mr. Biden’s visit to Africa is expected to be his final trip abroad before leaving office. He made a promise in 2022 to visit the continent to show the United States’ commitment to Africa’s future. Despite some delays, Mr. Biden is now on a three-day diplomatic tour of Angola. During his visit, he will tour a slavery museum and highlight a rail corridor that his team sees as a key part of his administration’s economic strategy in the region.
A large project called the Lobito Corridor, costing $1 billion, is being developed to connect Angola with Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These countries are abundant in important minerals needed for making batteries for smartphones and electric vehicles. President Biden is promoting this project to strengthen American access to these crucial resources in Africa and to counter China’s increasing influence in the region.
Even though the Biden administration is making efforts to establish positive relationships, experts in foreign policy believe that the United States is still falling behind China and Russia in terms of economic and security leverage in Africa.
According to Tibor P. Nagy Jr., who has served as an ambassador in Africa appointed by both President Bill Clinton and the Trump administration, the United States has not prioritized its relationship with post-colonial Africa. He criticizes administrations for making ambitious African strategies without substantial follow-through, likening it to the famous advertisement asking, "Where is the beef?"
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