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During his final trip abroad in office, President Biden will visit Angola to focus on exploring the country’s history, particularly its connection to slavery. Additionally, he will highlight a rail corridor that is part of his administration’s economic strategy in the region.
Written by Zolan Kanno-Youngs.
Zolan Kanno-Youngs is a journalist who reports on the activities at the White House and is scheduled to accompany President Biden on Air Force One for a trip to Angola.
On Sunday night, President Biden will start his planned trip to Africa by visiting Angola. The purpose of this visit is to recognize the difficult and extensive history shared between the two countries, while also showing a commitment to future economic investments.
The visit to Africa by Mr. Biden marks the first time an American president has traveled to the continent since Barack Obama’s trip to Kenya and Ethiopia in 2015.
Mr. Biden’s visit to Africa, which is expected to be his final overseas trip as president, is part of his commitment to show support for Africa’s future. Despite several delays, he is embarking on a three-day diplomatic tour of Angola, where he will visit a slavery museum and highlight a rail corridor that his administration sees as a key aspect of their economic strategy in the region.
A project called the Lobito Corridor, with a budget of $1 billion, aims 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 presence and influence on the continent.
Even though the Biden administration is making efforts to establish positive relationships, the United States is still falling behind China and Russia in terms of competing for economic and security power in Africa, as stated by experts in foreign policy.
Tibor P. Nagy Jr., who has served as an ambassador in Africa under President Bill Clinton and as assistant secretary of state for African affairs under the Trump administration, expressed that since disengaging with post-colonial Africa, it has been a low priority for the United States. He criticized administrations for coming up with ambitious African strategies that lack substance, comparing it to the old advertisement asking "Where is the beef?"
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