President Joe Biden will visit Angola soon. This will make him the first U.S. president to visit sub-Saharan Africa since 2015. The trip will happen after the United Nations General Assembly in September. It will take place before the November 5 presidential election.
Biden had planned to visit Angola last year. However, the Israel-Hamas conflict delayed the trip. His visit highlights U.S. efforts to strengthen ties with African democracies. Meanwhile, China continues to invest heavily in Africa.
The U.S. supports a major project linking the Democratic Republic of Congo to Angola’s Lobito port by rail. This project will improve trade and ease road congestion.
In 2022, Biden met with Angolan President Joao Lourenco at the White House. They discussed the possibility of this visit. This trip shows Biden’s focus on deepening U.S. relations with Africa. Other U.S. officials, like Vice President Kamala Harris, have visited Africa recently.
Biden’s visit comes just weeks before a closely contested U.S. election.
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