In a landmark visit to Lobito, Angola, U.S. President Joe Biden met with African leaders to strengthen commercial ties and counter China’s growing influence on the continent.
The focus of the summit was a transformative plan to develop the Lobito Corridor—a railway that will transport critical minerals from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to global markets.
The United States has pledged a $550 million loan to rehabilitate the existing railway and extend it deeper into the mineral-rich regions of the DRC.
This initiative aims to establish alternative supply chains for vital minerals essential for clean energy technologies, such as batteries.
The second phase of the railway, which envisions extending the line into Zambia and potentially to Tanzania’s Indian Ocean port of Dar es Salaam, is slated to begin construction in 2026.
Biden’s trip—the first of his presidency to Africa—brought together the heads of state from Angola, Zambia, and the DRC, as well as Tanzania’s vice president.
Discussions emphasized regional stability and the vast economic potential of Africa’s mineral resources. Biden stressed the importance of peace and development to unlock the DRC’s reserves of copper and cobalt, essential for the global energy transition.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema highlighted the railway’s transformative potential. “This corridor is vital for opening up our countries, our region, and the global economy,” he said.
Angolan President João Lourenço echoed this sentiment, underscoring Angola’s shift toward stronger ties with Western nations, after a long history of alignment with China and Russia.
The Lobito Corridor is supported by a consortium of Western companies, including Trafigura, Mota-Engil, and Vecturis, positioning the project as a counterbalance to China’s entrenched influence in Africa’s mining sector.
Biden’s visit further reinforced Angola’s growing partnership with the U.S., including pledges for increased security and long-term economic collaboration.
However, critics argue that the U.S. influence in Africa has waned during Biden’s presidency, with limited presence in regions like the Sahel and slow progress in countering China’s dominance in the DRC’s mining sector.
Additionally, concerns have been raised that the second phase of the railway could inadvertently provide China with an eastern export route through Tanzania, undermining Washington’s strategic goals.
Despite these challenges, the Lobito project symbolizes the U.S. commitment to fostering infrastructure and economic integration in Africa.
As Biden’s visit underscored, initiatives like the Lobito Corridor have the potential to unlock regional trade and prosperity, positioning Africa as a key player in the global energy transition.
