The United States government has played a limited role in infrastructure development in low-income countries, but a flagship project by the Biden administration seeks to redefine how the country supports large-scale projects, positioning it as a competitive force against China’s global influence.
The Lobito corridor will connect Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo via a rail that runs to the Lobito port in Angola, with the potential to extend to Tanzania in the future. The initiative involves updating existing railway lines and building 800 kilometers of new tracks, mostly in Zambia. The vision behind the project is to establish a transformative economic corridor that will drive development and prosperity for communities along its route.
The U.S. has invested about $4 billion into projects along the corridor, including the railroad itself, President Joe Biden said at an event in Angola on Wednesday. His visit to the country and this project, in the final weeks of his administration, not only fulfills a promise to visit the African continent but also underscores the strategic importance of the Lobito corridor to his administration and his legacy.