US President Joe Biden visited Angola on Tuesday, announcing over $1 billion in humanitarian aid to Africa. This move marks a significant step in US engagement with the continent, aiming to strengthen economic ties and counter China’s growing influence in the region.
The aid package will address food insecurity and other urgent needs caused by historic droughts across 31 African countries. Speaking at the National Slavery Museum near Luanda, Biden reaffirmed the US commitment to Africa, emphasizing the importance of supporting displaced communities and fostering resilience.
Biden’s trip to Angola, the first by a sitting US president, underscored the country’s strategic importance in the region. The visit included meetings with Angolan President João Lourenço, where they discussed economic and security partnerships, including the US-backed Lobito Corridor project.
This initiative aims to rehabilitate a railway connecting mineral-rich regions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia to Angola’s Atlantic port of Lobito. The project has received loans from the US, the European Union, and other international partners, offering a strategic alternative to Chinese infrastructure investments in Africa.
Biden highlighted the potential of the corridor to transform African economies, stating, “The future runs through Angola, through Africa.” His administration has prioritized infrastructure development as a means of fostering economic growth and stability in the region.
The visit also included discussions on security issues, with concerns raised about the potential for weapons to flow into Africa amid global conflicts. Human rights organizations have urged Biden to address Angola’s domestic challenges, including alleged abuses by security forces.
