Biden arrives in Angola for long-awaited visit to sub-Saharan Africa

President Joe Biden has arrived in Angola for his first official visit to sub-Saharan Africa, a significant moment as his presidency nears its conclusion. Thousands of Angolans lined the streets of Luanda to welcome him, marking a historic occasion as Biden becomes the first sitting U.S. president to visit Angola. Before arriving in Angola,

Biden made a brief stop in Cape Verde, where he met with Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva.

During his visit, Biden plans to meet Angolan President João Lourenço, tour the National Slavery Museum, and travel to the port city of Lobito to examine a U.S.-backed railway corridor project.

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This initiative aims to connect copper and cobalt mines in Zambia and Congo to Angola’s Lobito port, creating a critical minerals route.

Despite concerns about the project’s long-term viability under the incoming Trump administration, experts view it as a strategic counterbalance to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which dominates Africa’s infrastructure development.

The visit also underscores the evolution of U.S.-Angola relations, transitioning from Cold War tensions to modern cooperation on trade, security, and development.

However, Biden’s trip has drawn scrutiny from human rights organizations, which have criticized Angola’s government for authoritarian policies and suppression of political freedoms.