U.S. President Joe Biden concluded his diplomatic visit to Africa on Wednesday by spotlighting the Lobito Corridor, a major railway project aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and economic growth. The initiative, supported by a $550 million U.S. loan, seeks to link Angola’s port city of Lobito to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia, with a second phase planned to extend the corridor through Tanzania.
President Biden toured the project alongside Angolan President João Lourenço, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi, and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema. The visit coincided with the high-level Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) Lobito Corridor Summit, bringing together the heads of state to discuss the transformative potential of the railway.
A Vision for Regional Integration
The Lobito Corridor project’s first phase involves refurbishing the existing railway in Angola and extending it into the DRC’s mining region, a critical source of cobalt and other minerals essential for global industries. This strategic investment underscores the United States’ commitment to fostering infrastructure that boosts trade and economic opportunities in Africa.
Speaking at the summit, President Biden emphasized the project’s significance. “The Lobito Corridor is more than a railway; it’s a gateway to shared prosperity for Angola, the DRC, Zambia, and beyond,” he stated. “This partnership exemplifies how infrastructure can unite nations and empower people.”
Leaders Unite for Shared Goals
President Lourenço highlighted Angola’s role as a regional hub, while President Tshisekedi noted the corridor’s potential to unlock the DRC’s vast mineral wealth. President Hichilema expressed optimism about Zambia’s increased access to global markets through enhanced transportation links.
The White House revealed that the project aligns with the PGII’s goals of driving sustainable development and countering global infrastructure gaps. The second phase, extending the railway through Tanzania, aims to create a seamless transport network connecting central and southern Africa.
No Completion Date Yet
While no timeline has been announced for the project’s completion, the Lobito Corridor is already being hailed as a game-changer for Africa’s infrastructure landscape. Its realization promises to strengthen economic ties among participating nations, improve trade logistics, and create jobs across the region.
The Lobito Corridor is part of broader efforts by the U.S. to deepen ties with Africa through initiatives that promote economic growth, regional integration, and sustainability.
He probably doesn’t even know where he is right now…..sleepy Joe
Its a non Starter……Sleepy Joe wont even remember that he promised $600m. He wont even remember that he came to Africa-Angola. Ask him again …he will say he was in Afghanistan with Savimbi.
Trump is taking note
To think USA provided Savimbi with the means to repeatedly destroy the same railway, now they are celebrating the trade opportunities with the very same MPLA government they were fighting against. Sometimes things can change for the better I guess (unless Joe has forgotten they are communists?)
Bauze! Washington destroyed the railway because they hated Communist Luanda. Now they are yapping about restoring it, it becomes their “initiative”? How callously sly!!!
Let’s see this road rail line as an opportunity………..
Not as a threat……….
If the Americans want to come and compete with China in investments in Africa,………
They are welcome to bring their money, it is………
Us to leverage what’s best for us and play smart…….
We are here
Forwardee 2031
How can anyone with sense not agree with your comments??
We have problems with ignorance, unplaced arrogance and just plain directionless.
There are certain things we can agree and disagree on. But certainly what you suggest is in the best interest of our people and some smart Alec disagrees?
Just seeking truth and justice
That is a snap shot of altitude this GRZ is up against……..everything they do is opposed on the basis of tribe
The ignorant supremacists also think I’m from the wrong tribe………
Forwadee 2031
Man needs to know his salvation doesn’t lie in the worship of other men. Those who look up to the US for ideals of democracy, justice, ethics, technology or any other virtues, have been brought down to earth by events in the US.
The US has just shown us that the masses can be fooled by a fool, justice can be evaded by power, ethics are helpless when faced by emotion. Is technology going to give us the answers to life’s needs?
If you don’t believe in God, now you should
HH must use this occasion on the side lines, to further dialog with his Angolan counterpart on how we can begin to source cheaper Angolan oil as soon as possible
So 55 musd for the big guy .. Not bad for a nearly-dead.
Tell the incoming US president to help zambia
With energy crises.lobito can wait for now.
It’s strange to talk about “extending the corridor” to Tanzania. I think they. mean joining the existing Chinese built Tazara at Kapiri Mposhi, unless a tunnel under Lake Tanganyika
Extending the corridor is just an economic turn of phrase. But if you remember Thabo Mbeki under NEPAD, talked about the need for Africa to connect the west coast to the Eastern coast. This to facilitate intra Africa trade and commerce.In this case the journey starts from Lobito through Kapiri to Dar.
We would expect a railline or highway to link Kinshasa/Brazzaville to Lubumbashi then Ndola and to Maputo or Beira. Such transport ventures would give birth to development that benefits citizens on the envisaged routes.
Our minerals are gone. All talk of making batteries in Zambia was just rubbish. I miss Kaunda. He would never have co-signed this nonsense
Take note HIGHLIGHTS Says it all
Sometimes they say be careful what you wish for. The Lobito corridor maybe a double edged sword for Zambia as it will limit traffic and goods destined for Lualaba in the DRC from passing through the country. This will negatively affect the economy with loss of toll fees, service industries, including the ladies of the night will not be spared. In 2023, DRC produced 3.7million tonnes of copper not including the cobalt. All the means to produce and the products transited through Zambia and this traffic may be reduced to less than 50% once the corridor is open. This may be a case of the chickens celebrating Christmas for Zambia as a country.
Why worry the toll fees dont come to us anyway
thinking 20 to 25 years chinese get them
Imran Khan
That could be the case, but the reality is……..
Angol and DRC can easily carry on the project and cut out zambia completely……..
So zambia has done well to insert itself into this project…….
It is up to zambia to make the best out of this by producing more finished goods for export……..
Forwadee 2031
Angola and DRC can easily carry on the project.
The fact is they cant. Not easily. This railine was Cecil Rhodes plan to link Northern and Southern Rhodesia to West Africa
Yes the toll fees are stolen but we can stop the theft! Let’s look for a straight government. We can have it. We are not born to fail
All American Presidents come to Africa in or after their last term in office. Africa is on the back burner in America. Trump will come to Nigeria because his daughter’s father in law is from there.