The visit focuses on a strategic railway project, historical reparations, and geopolitical challenges.
U.S. President Joe Biden arrived in Angola on Monday (December 2) for a two-day visit marking his last official trip to Africa during his current term. The primary focus of the trip is the Lobito Corridor, an ambitious railway project that connects the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia to the Port of Lobito in Angola, alongside discussions on the legacy of slavery in the continent. However, Biden’s recent decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, has sparked controversy, diverting some attention to a matter that has been a point of domestic political debate in the United States.
With his arrival in Angola, Biden fulfills a promise made shortly after assuming office to visit Sub-Saharan Africa, a region with which the U.S. has sought to strengthen its economic and political relations. During Biden’s tenure, the U.S. administration has focused on promoting trade partnerships, infrastructure development, and addressing global challenges such as climate change and the supply of strategic minerals essential for the energy transition. However, amid rising geopolitical rivalries, particularly with China, the focus of the Angola visit is directly related to competitiveness in the minerals sector.
The highlight of this visit is the Lobito Corridor, a railway line of vital strategic importance, which links the resource-rich countries of Congo and Zambia to the Port of Lobito on Angola’s Atlantic coast. The construction of the corridor has the potential to transform the region’s trade dynamics, facilitating the transportation of critical minerals such as copper, cobalt, lithium, and other rare metals, which are essential for the production of electric vehicle batteries, mobile devices, and general technology.
The project is largely financed by a U.S. loan, which seeks to support African infrastructure while also ensuring a greater commercial connection between these resource-rich countries and the global market. The Lobito Corridor aims to transform Angola into an internationally important logistics hub, offering a more efficient route for the flow of minerals critical to the United States and its technological needs. As such, the construction of the railway is seen by Washington as a way to reduce dependence on trade routes dominated by other global powers, especially China.
Currently, China has a dominant presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it heavily invests in the extraction and marketing of these minerals. This situation has become a point of tension for the U.S., which is seeking strategic alternatives to reduce Chinese influence in the region and ensure that African resources are not only used to fuel the growth of external powers but also benefit the development of local economies. In this context, the Lobito Corridor represents a direct response to the growing Chinese power, promoting greater diversification of export routes and making Africa more competitive in global trade.
During his stay, Biden will meet with Angolan President João Lourenço and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema to discuss the next steps in the development of infrastructure, trade, and investment projects. Additionally, Biden is expected to announce new commitments in the fields of health, climate, and clean energy, including partnerships to address the challenges of Africa’s energy transition and strengthen collaboration in areas such as public health and climate change.
Biden’s visit also includes an important symbolic and historical component. The U.S. president will visit the National Museum of Slavery in Luanda to reflect on the dark legacy of the slave trade that involved the African continent. Angola, as one of the major points of origin for enslaved people, played a crucial role in this tragic chapter of history, and Biden’s meeting with local leaders and human rights activists will reflect an effort to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Africa, while recognizing the need for historical reparations and social justice.
Moreover, Biden will visit the Lobito Corridor facilities at the Port of Lobito, where he will discuss operational details and possible new phases of the project, including financing and railway management. The U.S. government also aims to expand its support for public health projects in the region, particularly in response to disease outbreaks such as malaria and Ebola, as well as strengthen collaboration in environmental and clean energy issues, areas that have become priorities in Biden’s foreign policy.
Despite the focus on international cooperation and strengthening relations with African countries, Biden’s visit is not without controversy. The president’s decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden, who has faced investigations into his business dealings, has dominated headlines in the United States and sparked criticism from political opponents. Although Biden has defended the decision, claiming it was made on the basis of justice, the issue has caused divisions in the country, diverting some attention from the diplomatic efforts the president seeks to promote abroad.
Nevertheless, analysts believe that despite internal tensions, the visit to Angola and investment in projects such as the Lobito Corridor reflect a long-term vision of the Biden administration for the U.S. and Africa. Experts point out that regardless of who occupies the White House after 2024, the railway project will continue to be a strategic priority for the U.S., especially with the growing demand for minerals and the need to diversify global supply chains.
Indeed, sources within the Republican Party suggest that if Donald Trump returns to the presidency in 2025, cooperation with Angola and support for infrastructure projects like the Lobito Corridor will likely continue to be a significant area of interest, showing that U.S. foreign policy towards Africa and global geopolitics will not depend solely on the party in power.
The Lobito Corridor may represent a turning point in trade and diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Africa. By connecting the region to international markets more efficiently, the project could not only boost the economies of Angola and neighboring countries like Zambia and Congo but also alter the balance of power in the trade of critical minerals. For the U.S., securing access to these minerals will be crucial as the world transitions to a greener economy based on electronics and renewable energy.
Therefore, Biden’s visit to Angola transcends traditional diplomacy, reflecting Africa’s importance in the global geopolitical landscape and the role of the United States in shaping the continent’s future. Even in the final days of his presidency, Biden makes it clear that investments in infrastructure and long-term partnerships with Africa remain a fundamental priority for U.S. foreign policy.
Joe Biden’s visit to Angola, while marked by domestic controversies, represents a culmination of his diplomatic strategy aimed at strengthening relations with Africa and deepening cooperation in key areas such as infrastructure, trade, and social justice. The Lobito Corridor emerges as an emblematic project, not only for its economic relevance but also as a symbol of the United States’ desire to increase its strategic presence on the continent, challenging China’s growing influence and seeking to secure access to minerals essential for the global energy transition.
At the same time, Biden’s visit acknowledges the historical weight of slavery and the need for reparations and reconciliation, reflecting a holistic approach in relations with African countries. The partnership between the U.S. and nations like Angola and Zambia has the potential to transform regional infrastructure, while support for health, climate, and clean energy projects promises to further strengthen these ties.
Although the decision to pardon Hunter Biden has sparked political divisions, it should not overshadow the significance of Biden’s mission in Africa, which transcends domestic issues. The legacy of his presidency in the region will depend on the concrete outcomes of projects like the Lobito Corridor and the building of a network of strategic partnerships with the continent. If successful, this effort will have lasting impacts on global trade, energy security, and geopolitics in the decades to come. Ultimately, the visit underscores Africa’s growing relevance in the global scene and positions the United States as a crucial strategic partner for the continent’s sustainable development and economic transformation.
