Biden in Angola: What’s behind the last-ditch Africa trip?

It’s a chance to redeem his legacy in Africa, experts say. But it won’t be easy.

United States President Joe Biden is visiting Angola this week on his first-ever bilateral trip to Africa as president – weeks before he leaves the post to Donald Trump.

Biden is set to arrive in the Angolan capital, Luanda, on Monday, after a brief stop in the West African nation of Cape Verde. The two-day trip to Angola, many analysts say, represents a final, desperate attempt to fulfil a promise Biden made long ago, and counter China’s expanding influence on the continent.

The anticipated visit, which was pushed back from October due to Hurricane Milton, will see Biden visit the Lobito Port, which is at the heart of US trade relations with Angola. There, he will assess an ongoing critical minerals infrastructure project that is set to see vast supplies of cobalt and copper delivered to the West.

Here’s what to know about Biden’s Africa visit and why Lobito is important:

Analysts say Biden’s failure to visit any African country – except Egypt for COP27 in November 2022 – until now shows that his administration has not prioritised the continent.