PRESIDENT Joe Biden is finally making his long-promised trip to sub-Saharan Africa, marking a significant moment for US diplomacy in a region where China has made notable inroads. His visit, which focuses on a US-backed railway project, is aimed at countering China’s growing influence on the continent and showcases a new approach to engagement in Africa.
Biden’s first visit to the region as president will spotlight the Lobito Corridor railway redevelopment, a project that spans three countries: Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo), and Angola. This $2.5bn, 800-mile upgrade of the railway is designed to connect Africa’s critical mineral-rich areas to the Atlantic Ocean port of Lobito, offering a new route for the continent’s copper and cobalt — crucial materials for electric vehicle batteries, clean energy technologies, and electronics.
The Lobito project reflects the US government’s growing focus on Africa’s potential and comes amid intensifying competition between Washington and Beijing. For years, China has dominated Africa’s mining sector and infrastructure projects through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The US has not had a similar global infrastructure plan, and Biden’s initiative seeks to change that. The US has committed hundreds of millions of dollars to the project, which also enjoys funding from the European Union, the G7 countries, African banks, and private Western investors.
However, as Biden seeks to build on this momentum, experts are already questioning what will happen to the project and the US’s broader approach to Africa under a potential second Trump administration. Former officials and experts agree that any long-term changes in US-Africa relations, particularly concerning strategic projects like Lobito, are likely to be determined by who occupies the White House after the 2024 election.
Trump’s possible role in Africa’s future
‘There’s no question that [when] Donald Trump returns to power, his administration will likely take a different approach to Africa than Biden’s,’ said Mvemba Dizolele, director of the Africa Programme at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. ‘Biden is no longer the story; even African leaders are now more focused on Trump.’
Indeed, the next US president may play a pivotal role in continuing or altering the US strategy in Africa, especially if they place emphasis on countering China, which Trump has long positioned as a global adversary. During Trump’s tenure, his administration took a more transactional approach to Africa, focusing heavily on trade and security rather than large infrastructure projects like Lobito. It remains uncertain whether Trump would maintain or scale back US investments like the Lobito Corridor, despite its bipartisan backing in Washington.
If the project continues to be viewed as part of the broader US-China competition, there is a likelihood that it will be maintained regardless of which administration is in power. Christian-Géraud Neema, an analyst of China-Africa relations, notes that as long as the Lobito Corridor is framed as a tool to reduce China’s dominance in the region, it could continue to receive funding and support.
Lobito as a strategic step for the US
The Lobito Corridor is particularly important for the US as it expands its footprint in Africa’s mineral-rich regions. Zambia and Congo together account for a significant portion of the world’s cobalt reserves, with Congo controlling over 70 percent of the global supply. Yet China currently dominates mining operations in both countries, leaving the US and Europe dependent on Beijing for these critical resources. By funding the Lobito Corridor, the US aims to increase its presence in the region, offering a counterbalance to China’s infrastructure dominance.
Biden’s visit to Angola, where he will announce new initiatives in health, security cooperation, and agribusiness, also underscores the growing diplomatic and economic ties between the US and countries in Africa that have long-standing relationships with China. This visit is a clear attempt to reshape US-Africa relations, which have often been sidelined in favour of other global priorities.
The ongoing challenge of engagement
Despite Biden’s strategic efforts, many experts remain sceptical about whether this visit will mark a true turning point in US engagement with Africa. Michelle Gavin, a former US ambassador to Botswana, questioned whether the US will truly shift its focus to the continent. ‘It’s not just about trying to blunt China; it’s about figuring out how to engage with Africa seriously,’ she said. ‘Lobito is one project, but it’s not enough to show Africa that the US will be a consistent and reliable partner.’
For now, the US faces a balancing act, navigating its competition with China while also contending with internal political shifts. The Biden administration has placed high hopes on the Lobito Corridor to cement a stronger US presence in Africa, but whether it can sustain momentum or whether future administrations will carry it forward remains an open question.
