Joe Biden is scheduled to depart for Angola on Sunday, fulfilling his commitment to visit Africa during his presidency. The trip will emphasize a significant U.S.-supported railway initiative designed to redirect essential minerals away from China.

This project, partially financed by a U.S. loan, connects the mineral-rich Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to the Angolan port of Lobito on the Atlantic, providing a swift and efficient export route to Western markets.

The initiative involves substantial quantities of minerals such as copper and cobalt, which are abundant in Congo and are vital for batteries and various electronic devices. China’s dominance in Congo has raised concerns in Washington.

In September, China entered into an agreement with Tanzania and Zambia to revitalize a competing railway line to the eastern coast of Africa.

Although Biden‘s visit occurs during the final days of his presidency, Donald Trump is expected to support the railway project and maintain a strong partnership with Angola upon his anticipated return to the White House in January, as indicated by two officials from the previous Trump administration.

Tibor Nagy, a retired ambassador and former top envoy to Africa under Trump, noted that Trump will likely prioritize two main issues regarding Africa: competition with China and Russia, and access to critical minerals. He remarked, “This checks both boxes,” referring to the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR).

The project has the backing of global commodities trader Trafigura, the Portuguese construction firm Mota-Engil, and railway operator Vecturis. The U.S. Development Finance Corporation has allocated a $550 million loan to upgrade the 1,300-kilometer (800-mile) rail line from Lobito to Congo.

Biden is expected to make a brief stop in Cape Verde on Monday morning to meet with the president before continuing to Angola. During his two-day visit, he plans to tour the nation’s slavery museum in Luanda and visit the Lobito port on Wednesday.

His journey fulfills part of a broad array of commitments to Africa. However, several promises remain unfulfilled, including support for two permanent seats for Africa on the U.N. Security Council.

In addition to the railway initiative, Washington has made limited progress in enhancing access to Africa’s extensive mineral resources, which it deems essential for national security, and has faced other diplomatic challenges. This summer, the U.S. lost its primary intelligence base in Niger and has struggled to secure a new ally to host these assets. Consequently, the U.S. lacks a military presence in the expansive Sahel region, which has become a focal point for Islamist extremism.

Angola has historically maintained strong relationships with China and Russia but has recently shifted its focus toward the West. Officials in Angola express a desire to collaborate with any partner that can help advance their economic growth agenda and are optimistic that the project will stimulate investment across various sectors. “China’s rise in prominence is largely due to the fact that Western nations have not been sufficiently attentive to Africa,” remarked Ricardo Viegas d’Abreu, Angola’s transport minister, in an interview.

STRENGTHENING RELATIONS WITH ANGOLA

Biden’s visit signifies a significant shift in U.S.-Angola relations following a tumultuous and violent past. During the nation’s 27-year civil war, the U.S. and the Soviet Union supported opposing factions. Diplomatic relations were established in 1993, nearly two decades after Angola achieved independence.

“It seems fitting that the United States should fund the restoration of this route, which it had a hand in destroying decades ago,” stated Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika, a former Zambian government minister who oversaw part of the railway that will constitute the Lobito corridor.

Officials from the Biden administration have indicated that the Lobito rail project is not merely a singular effort but rather a pilot initiative to demonstrate the viability of public-private partnerships, with the expectation that it will pave the way for additional significant infrastructure projects in Africa. They also anticipate that it will strengthen U.S. relations with Angola, particularly in the realm of security collaboration.

Critics have raised concerns about the project’s lack of a completion timeline and its ability to achieve the intended objectives. A significant point of contention is the proposed second phase, which aims to link the railway to Tanzania’s eastern coast, potentially providing an alternative route to China.

Judd Devermont, who recently served as Biden’s chief adviser on Africa, noted that Congo is seeking to diversify its mining partnerships and dismissed the notion that connecting the project to a Tanzanian port would hinder efforts to reduce China’s influence over Congo’s mineral resources.

“The Congolese have made it clear that they do not wish for their entire mining industry to be dominated by China,” he stated in an interview. “Facilitating movement across the continent benefits everyone, whether it involves critical minerals or transporting goods from India to Brazil to New York.”