By Gerald Imray and Will Weissert
President Joe Biden arrived in Angola on Monday for his long-awaited first presidential visit to sub-Saharan Africa and will use the three-day trip to counter China’s influence by highlighting an ambitious U.S.-backed railway project.
The Lobito Corridor railway redevelopment in Zambia, Congo and Angola aims to advance U.S. presence in a region rich in the critical minerals used in batteries for electric vehicles, electronic devices and clean energy technologies.
Biden first stopped in the Atlantic Ocean island nation of Cape Verde for a brief, closed-door meeting with Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva. In Angola, Biden plans to meet with Angolan President João Lourenço, visit the National Slavery Museum and travel to the port city of Lobito for a look at the rail project.
His visit comes with weeks left in his presidency, as Republican Donald Trump prepares to take office on Jan. 20.
Biden promised to visit Africa last year after
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