U.S. President Joe Biden is visiting Angola on Tuesday and Wednesday in a move aimed at asserting Washington's ambitions in Africa in the face of China's growing influence.
Biden, who will hand over power to Donald Trump on January 20, is set to meet Angolan President João Lourenço in Luanda on Tuesday.The American president will also deliver a speech at the National Museum of Slavery in the capital of this former Portuguese colony, located on the Atlantic Ocean.
On Wednesday, Biden will travel to Lobito, a port city about 500 kilometers south of Luanda, to highlight one of the signature investments of his presidency in Africa: the "Lobito Corridor."During his visit, Biden will meet with leaders of the countries involved in the project, including Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, and Tanzania, according to the White House.
The railway project aims to transport strategic raw materials such as copper and cobalt to the Lobito port."This project is a true revolution for U.S. engagement in Africa," said John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council at the White House, on Tuesday.
For security reasons, local authorities have declared two public holidays during the visit.
