Key Takeaways:
– President Biden is visiting Africa to boost a U.S-backed railway project in Zambia, Congo, and Angola.
– This visit to sub-Saharan Africa is Biden’s first as President, drawing attention to the Lobito Corridor railway redevelopment project.
– The railway project is central to advancing U.S. presence in an area abundant in minerals necessary for electronic devices, clean energy technologies, and electric vehicle batteries.
– The U.S. is challenging China’s hold on Africa’s crucial minerals through this project.
– Experts believe the project’s success will influence the future of U.S-Africa ties and the U.S’s role in Africa’s development amidst China’s growing influence.
Biden’s Strategic Visit to Africa
President Joe Biden is making his much-anticipated visit to Africa, demonstrating the U.S.’s commitment to a railway project that could help the U.S. counter China’s global influence. He embarked on a three-day trip to Angola but not before stopping at the island of Cape Verde for a crucial meeting with Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva.
The Lobito Corridor railway redevelopment project, spanning Zambia, Congo, and Angola, is the central focus of Biden’s visit. Rich in crucial minerals essential for batteries in electronic devices, clean energy technologies, and electric vehicles, Africa poses a significant opportunity for U.S. investment.
The U.S. Countering China’s Dominance
China’s stronghold on Africa’s critical minerals makes the continent a significant battleground for U.S.-China competition. For years, the U.S. has built ties with Africa through trade, security, and humanitarian aid, but the $2.5-billion railway upgrade sets a distinct path.
In essence, the railway upgrade bears a resemblance to China’s Belt and Road foreign infrastructure strategy. President Biden has frequently referred to the Lobito Corridor as one of his primary initiatives, but its prospects depend on the future administration.
“African leaders are focused on Donald Trump,” says Mvemba Dizolele, director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Yet, with financial backing from the European Union, the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations, a Western-led private consortium and African banks, the Lobito Corridor project holds promise.
Stake of America’s Diplomacy in Africa
Despite repeated delays, there is hope and optimism that the Lobito project will endure through the change of administration. Being labelled as a key tool against China in Africa certainly encourages continued funding.
The Lobito Corridor is much more than an upgrade and extension of a railway line. It signifies a shot at blunting China’s control over the world’s cobalt supply, majority of which finds its way to China, fortifying its essential mineral supply chain that the U.S. and Europe depend on.
Achieving American Diplomatic Success
The U.S. won the bid for the Lobito project thanks to its diplomatic success, beating Chinese competition, an unexpected outcome considering Angola’s strong ties with Beijing.
Under the Biden administration, U.S.-Angola relationships have flourished. From an antagonistic past thirty years ago, trade between the two nations improved, hitting $1.77 billion last year. With President João Lourenço playing mediator in the eastern Congo conflict, the U.S. has a stronger presence in regional security.
Political Challenges and the way Forward
Despite this progress, Biden’s trip draws attention to Angola’s authoritarian shift, with international rights groups criticizing alleged government repression. This throws a slight shadow on Washington’s African partnership.
As Michelle Gavin, former U.S. ambassador to Botswana and adviser to Obama puts it, “It’s not just about trying to blunt China, but trying to imagine what it would look like if we actually were to show up in a more serious way.”
The U.S.’s engagement with Africa needs to be consistent to achieve any substantial progress. While the Lobito project is a good start, Gavin believes it’s still insufficient. Besides, the impact of this project and Biden’s Africa visit will shape the U.S.’s focus on Africa in the future.