President Joe Biden’s first visit to Africa, landing in Angola, is being viewed as an attempt to solidify his legacy on the continent. However, analysts warn that China’s decade-long dominance in African investment may thwart U.S. ambitions.
President Joe Biden’s first visit to Africa, landing in Angola, highlights a significant U.S. pivot toward the continent, accompanied by the announcement of a $1 billion aid package to support humanitarian needs across 31 African nations. The trip and funding underscore efforts to address food insecurity, healthcare shortages, and displacement crises while strengthening U.S. ties in the region amid growing Chinese influence.
“I’m announcing over $1 billion of new humanitarian support for Africans displaced from homes by historic droughts,” Biden commented, “It’s the right thing for the wealthiest nation in the world to do.”
The aid is part of broader U.S. initiatives to deepen engagement in Africa, with a particular focus on the Lobito Rail Corridor, an 800-mile railway aimed at transporting critical raw materials (CRMs) like cobalt and lithium from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to Angola’s Atlantic coast. These materials are vital for manufacturing electric vehicle (EV) batteries, and the corridor could cut transit times from 45 days to under a week.
Dr. Frances Brown, senior director for African affairs at the National Security Council, called the rail project a “signature initiative” of Biden’s administration, claiming billions have already been mobilized to advance the effort. The project is part of a $55 billion pledge made during the 2022 Africa Leaders Summit, of which 80% has already been committed, according to White House officials.
However, analysts warn that Biden’s efforts face stiff competition from China, which has spent decades solidifying its economic footprint in Africa. Cameron Hudson, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Affairs, said, “Biden set high expectations to revamp relations with the continent, but his approach has not substantially differed from predecessors.” China dominates CRM supply chains, controls 80% of cobalt production in the DRC, and is upgrading the TAZARA rail line, which could rival the Lobito Corridor.
Dr. E.D. Wala Chabala, an African economic policy consultant, noted, “The U.S. is late to the game. Most targeted materials are already locked in by China.” Still, Hudson emphasized that African nations are open to diversifying their partnerships, presenting the U.S. with an opportunity to reestablish its influence through trade, not aid.
The $1 billion aid package and the Lobito project reflect Biden’s broader push to counterbalance China while addressing Africa’s immediate humanitarian needs. Whether these efforts succeed in reshaping U.S.-Africa relations or outpacing China remains to be seen.
