Faith Nyasuguta
The Trump administration has reaffirmed its strong support for the ambitious $4 billion Lobito Corridor rail project, which spans Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Despite rising global tariff tensions, particularly due to the new “Liberation Day” tariffs, the U.S. remains committed to financing and backing the region’s vital infrastructure development. The initiative is seen as an essential element of Africa’s push for regional integration and a direct counterbalance to China’s growing presence on the continent.
James Story, the U.S. charge d’affaires and acting ambassador to Angola, confirmed the U.S. position, stating that Washington would continue to work with its African partners to bring the Lobito Corridor to fruition. Initially launched under President Joe Biden’s administration, the project has now gained significant momentum under Trump’s leadership.
The renewed commitment signals that the U.S. sees the corridor as a strategic investment not only for regional development but also for securing access to Africa’s rich mineral resources, crucial for the global transition to cleaner energy technologies.
The Lobito Corridor is an ambitious rail infrastructure project that stretches across three countries in southern Africa- Angola, Zambia, and the DRC. Its aim is to create a direct rail link between Central Africa’s mineral-rich regions and the Atlantic Ocean, facilitating the smooth transportation of metals like copper and cobalt.
These minerals are integral to industries such as electric vehicle manufacturing, renewable energy technologies, and the expanding global demand for artificial intelligence and data storage infrastructure. The corridor will create an efficient trade route for these resources, giving Africa a new economic lifeline.
The project involves constructing an 800-kilometer rail line, connecting Angola’s Benguela Railway to Zambia’s Chingola Rail Line. The initial phase of the Lobito Corridor will see the renovation of 1,300 kilometers of existing rail infrastructure in Angola, extending into the DRC’s mineral-rich areas. This phase will allow for the efficient transportation of copper, cobalt, and other essential minerals to the Atlantic port of Lobito, reducing reliance on expensive and inefficient road transport. A second phase is under consideration, which would extend the rail line into Zambia, Africa’s second-largest copper producer.
The Lobito Corridor has already garnered substantial international support. Major players such as the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the European Union, the African Development Bank, and the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) have pledged over $1 billion in funding. The U.S. DFC has committed a $553 million loan for the rail line’s upgrade and operation, marking a significant financial commitment by the U.S. government.
The decision to continue backing the project comes at a time of shifting global trade dynamics, particularly with President Trump’s new “Liberation Day” tariffs. These tariffs have already started to reshape trade relations between the U.S. and several African nations, including those involved in the Lobito Corridor.
Despite the potential economic impact of these tariffs on Angola, Zambia, and the DRC, the U.S. government’s ongoing support for the Lobito Corridor underscores the importance of this project as part of a broader strategy to strengthen African trade routes and reduce dependence on traditional global supply chains.
With the Trump administration’s renewed backing, the Lobito Corridor is well on its way to becoming a transformative project in Africa, providing the region with much-needed infrastructure while fostering economic and geopolitical independence from external powers like China. As the project moves forward, it will undoubtedly reshape trade, investment, and economic relations across the continent.
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