U.S. President Joe Biden met with African leaders in the Angolan port city of Lobito on Wednesday to push forward a strategic railway project aimed at boosting access to critical minerals from Congo and Zambia, while countering China’s dominance in the region. The initiative, designed to strengthen U.S. influence in Africa’s mining sector, focuses on extending the Lobito Railway to channel resources like copper and cobalt, essential for green technologies.
Biden’s visit highlighted U.S. commitment to Africa as he met with the presidents of Angola, Congo, and Zambia, as well as Tanzania’s vice president, to discuss the project. The U.S. has pledged $550 million in loan support for refurbishing the existing Lobito Railway and extending it into Congo’s mining hub. This first phase is set to improve infrastructure and facilitate trade. A second phase, which aims to connect Lobito to Zambia via a new railway, is under preparation with construction anticipated by 2026.
While China remains a dominant player in Congo’s mining sector, where vast reserves of cobalt and copper are crucial for battery production, the U.S. aims to provide a competitive alternative. The Lobito Railway project, awarded to a consortium of Western companies, represents a shift in Africa’s infrastructure landscape, aligning with U.S. efforts to secure access to these critical minerals amid rising geopolitical tensions.
At the summit, Biden emphasized the importance of the Lobito corridor for boosting regional trade and investment. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema called the project a “huge opportunity” for the region’s development, while Biden and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi pledged to work together on fostering peace and investment in Congo’s resource-rich territories.
The project also aligns with U.S. efforts to support debt restructuring in African nations, particularly Zambia, which completed a $13.4 billion debt restructuring deal earlier this year. As part of the initiative, U.S. officials are also funding feasibility studies for extending the railway through Zambia to Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam port.
However, challenges remain as the U.S. competes with China, which continues to expand its foothold in Africa. Despite these efforts, critics warn that the eastern route through Tanzania may offer a rival path for Chinese interests, complicating the strategic goal. The completion date for the project remains uncertain, but officials suggest the first phase could be operational by the end of the decade.
Biden’s trip underscores the growing competition between the U.S. and China for influence in Africa, particularly in securing resources vital for the global shift to renewable energy. While the U.S. continues to push for deeper engagement, its influence in the region has waned under Biden, with the country losing military bases in the Sahel and struggling to challenge China’s commercial dominance in critical minerals. Despite these challenges, Biden reaffirmed his commitment to Africa, aiming for sustained collaboration in sectors ranging from security to infrastructure development.