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By Shannon McDonagh
News Reporter
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President Joe Biden has begun his long-awaited visit to Africa, marking his first trip to the continent in almost four years as president. His three days in Angola will spotlight the Lobito Corridor railway project, a $2.5 billion U.S.-backed initiative aimed at countering China's dominance in Africa.
Stretching 800 miles, the railway will link the mineral-rich regions of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to Angola's Atlantic port of Lobito. It is expected to offer Western markets a more efficient source of critical minerals.
Meanwhile, China already boasts extensive mining operations in cobalt and copper—72 percent of all DRC extractions.
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First African US President Engagement Since 2015
Biden pledged to visit Africa after reviving the U.S.-Africa Summit in Dec. 2022, the first such gathering in nearly a decade.
The trip, initially pushed to 2024, was postponed again in October due to Hurricane Milton, fueling the perception among African leaders that their continent remains a low priority for Washington.
The last U.S. president to visit Africa was Barack Obama in 2015. His time there spanned seven countries across four visits.
Republican President-elect Donald Trump broke tradition by limiting his engagement with the continent throughout his first term. His administration proposed significant cuts to African foreign aid, though many of these cuts were blocked by Congress.
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Is $2.5 Billion Enough to Soften China's Power?
Though the Lobito Corridor project will not be completed until long after Biden's presidency, the Western-led consortium investment frames the project as a potential model for future Europe and U.S. infrastructure projects in Africa.
If successful, it could represent a shift in Western strategy throughout the continent, focusing on infrastructure projects to bolster economic ties rather than relying solely on "trade and aid."
"A lot is riding on this in terms of its success and its replicability," said Tom Sheehy, a fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace.
He noted that the railway is a key component of the G7's Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, a countermeasure to China's prolific Belt and Road Initiative, launched in 2013 by President Xi Jinping.
Decades of work have ensured China's connection to Congo's metal supplies, which has given the country a significant advantage in the production of EV and cellphone batteries, among other ventures.
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Last-Minute Visit 'Not Enough'
Critics question whether Biden's visit represents a meaningful enough shift in engagement.
Michelle Gavin, a former U.S. former adviser on Africa for President Obama, said she doubts Biden's time spent there will represent an "inflection point" for the continent.
"It is not just about trying to blunt China, but trying to imagine, OK, what does it look like if we actually were to show up in a more serious way?" she said. "It's one project. It's one good idea. And I'm very glad we're doing it. It's not enough."
Conversely, the Lobito Corridor's future is uncertain. While the project has bipartisan backing, it hinges on Trump's incoming second term.
"President Biden is no longer the story," said Mvemba Dizolele, the director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank. "Even African leaders are focused on Donald Trump."
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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