President Joe Biden recently visited Angola and announced a commitment of over $1 billion in humanitarian aid to address food insecurity and urgent needs caused by historic droughts in 31 African countries. This aid aims to support displaced communities and enhance resilience. During his visit, Biden also highlighted Angola’s historical role in the transatlantic slave trade, emphasizing the need to recognize this shared history.
Biden met with Angolan President João Lourenço to discuss strengthening economic and security partnerships, particularly focusing on the Lobito Corridor project. This initiative, backed by the US and other international partners, seeks to revitalize a railway connecting resource-rich areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia to Angola’s port of Lobito, facilitating exports and boosting regional trade. The project is seen as a strategic counterbalance to Chinese infrastructure investments in Africa, which have led to debt burdens for some countries.
The US administration views infrastructure development as crucial for promoting economic growth and stability in Africa. Beyond economic matters, discussions during the visit also touched on security issues, with concerns raised about the flow of weapons into the continent amid global conflicts. Human rights organizations urged Biden to address alleged abuses by Angolan security forces, highlighting the importance of accountability and reforms.
Biden’s trip included a summit on infrastructure investment in Lobito, where leaders from Angola, the DRC, Tanzania, and Zambia convened to discuss regional development. This visit signifies a step in US engagement with Africa and underscores efforts to strengthen ties and address critical challenges on the continent.