Faith Nyasuguta
President Joe Biden wrapped up his visit to sub-Saharan Africa on Wednesday by announcing a significant $600 million investment in the Lobito Corridor railway project, marking a bold step in strengthening U.S. ties with the region. Speaking from the Angolan port city of Lobito, Biden declared, “Africa has been left behind for much too long. But not anymore. Africa is the future.”
The ambitious Lobito Corridor project seeks to modernize and extend an 800-mile (1,300-kilometer) railway network connecting Angola, Congo, and Zambia. The rail line aims to streamline the transport of critical minerals like cobalt and copper, essential components for electric vehicles, electronics, and clean energy technologies, from Africa’s rich mining regions to global markets. Once completed, the railway could potentially link Africa’s west and east coasts, unlocking vast economic opportunities for the continent.
Biden described the project as a “game changer,” drawing parallels to the construction of the U.S. transcontinental railroad. Highlighting its transformative potential, he said cargo transit times would be drastically reduced. Goods that previously took 45 days to reach the United States through South Africa will now arrive in less than 45 hours.
Furthermore, Biden predicted that the initiative would position southern Africa as a major food exporter, alleviating the region’s dependency on imports.
The U.S. commitment to the project totals $4 billion, making it the largest American investment in a railway initiative outside the country. The funding, secured in collaboration with the European Union, the Group of Seven (G7), African banks, and a Western-led private consortium, signals a united effort to advance sustainable development across Africa.
Biden was accompanied by regional leaders, including Angola’s President Joao Lourenco, Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi, and Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema. During the ceremony, Tshisekedi emphasized the railway’s potential to create tens of millions of jobs and said it would “change the trajectory of our region for good.” Lourenco called the corridor a “lynchpin for economic development.”
The U.S. government has already approved a $550 million loan for the first phase of the project, which involves refurbishing existing railway infrastructure in Angola and extending it into Congo’s mineral-rich heartland. The second phase, planned to begin in 2026, will construct a new railway line linking Lobito to Zambia.
Biden indicated the project’s importance as a catalyst for future Western private-sector investments in Africa. He also framed it as a strategic response to counter China’s significant influence in the region, particularly in Congo’s mining sector. Currently, China dominates the extraction and export of cobalt and other minerals vital for the global transition to clean energy.
“This isn’t just about infrastructure, it’s about empowering Africa to lead in the global energy transition,” Biden said. He also praised the partnership model, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with African leaders.
While no completion date has been set, Biden expressed confidence in bipartisan support for the project, noting its appeal to past and present policymakers. “Initiatives like these aren’t about politics, they’re about progress,” he said.
The Lobito Corridor railway is expected to not only bolster Africa’s role in global supply chains but also improve regional trade, create jobs, and foster economic growth, marking a historic milestone in U.S.-Africa relations.
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