Biden visit to Angola will focus on US investments, regional partnerships in Africa

President Joe Biden will become the first sitting president to visit Angola this week, aiming to deepen relations between the two countries and highlight recent investments as an alternative to China’s growing support.

Biden’s visit also marks the first visit to Africa by a US president since President Barack Obama visited Kenya and Ethiopia in July 2015.

His trip, scheduled for Dec. 2-4, will begin with a bilateral meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço in the capital Luanda, according to a senior administration official announcing the trip. They last met in December 2023 in the Oval Office.

Biden will deliver a speech in Luanda describing “both our shared history and highlighting the growth and enduring strength of our relationships in Angola and across the continent,” according to the official.

He will also announce new results related to global health security, agro-industry, security cooperation and the preservation of Angola’s cultural heritage.

In 2022, the United States pledged to invest $55 billion in Africa over three years, and a senior administration official said 80% of that commitment has already been met.

“In the last two years in Angola, thanks to investments from the US government, there have been more telecommunications, more people connected to 3G and are now building 5G networks, as well as renewable energy,” he said. declared the manager. . “In fact, the United States has approved funding through [the Export-Import Bank] of nearly $2.5 billion in renewable energy projects that will enable countries to move from energy deficit to energy exporter to their neighbors.

The Biden administration has sought to counter China’s growing influence in Africa and its own significant commitments, including $50 billion in support announced in September that would be aimed at infrastructure and the creation of at least 1 million jobs.

The official added that “we don’t think it’s a bad thing” for China to invest in Africa, but warned of what could happen in the long term with this support, unlike the “significant” investments proposed by the United States.

“If this means that after a few years of investment, the communities living in the investment area have not seen any increase in GDP, that they have not seen the benefits of their lives, that “There has been no improvement in the lives of communities, if that means the government will live under crushing debt for generations to come… then the government will have to decide if that is the alternative it wants” , said the official.

“What we’ve heard time and time again over the years is that people want to have more – Africans want to have more investment alternatives, not fewer. But if they don’t have an alternative , they are forced to opt for the investment option.” an investment they have.

Biden is preparing for the trip with less than two months until he leaves office, after promising to return in 2022. Senior administration officials have said he has wanted to make the trip for a long time. While this was underway, more than 20 senior officials and officials have visited the continent over the past two years, including Vice President Kamala Harris in March 2023.