President Joe Biden on Tuesday pledged more than $1bn in humanitarian assistance to Africa during a visit to Angola, marking a step in US engagement with the continent.
Biden’s trip, the first by a sitting US president to the former Portuguese colony, underscored efforts to strengthen economic ties and counter China’s growing influence in the region.
The aid will address food insecurity and other urgent needs caused by historic droughts across 31 African countries.
Speaking at the National Slavery Museum near Luanda, Biden reaffirmed US commitment to Africa, saying the funds would support displaced communities and foster resilience.
“I’m announcing over $1bn of new humanitarian support for Africans displaced from homes by historic droughts,” Biden said, as reported by AFP.
The assistance will “address food insecurity and other urgent needs of refugees, internally displaced persons, and affected communities in 31 African countries, according to a statement from the US Agency for International Development.
He also reflected on Angola’s historical role in the transatlantic slave trade, calling slavery “our nation’s original sin” and emphasising the importance of acknowledging this shared history.
Biden met with Angolan President João Lourenço, who described the visit as a turning point in bilateral relations.
The leaders discussed economic and security partnerships, with a focus on the Lobito Corridor project.
The US-backed initiative aims to rehabilitate a railway connecting mineral-rich regions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia to Angola’s Atlantic port of Lobito, enabling critical exports and boosting regional trade.
The project has received loans from the United States, the European Union, and other international partners.
It is viewed as a strategic alternative to Chinese infrastructure investments in Africa, which have often left countries saddled with debt. Angola currently owes China $17 billion, nearly 40 percent of its total national debt.
Biden highlighted the potential of the corridor to transform African economies, stating, “The future runs through Angola, through Africa.”
His administration has prioritised infrastructure development as a means of fostering economic growth and stability in the region.
The visit also included discussions on security issues, with concerns raised about the potential for weapons to flow into Africa amid global conflicts.
Human rights organisations have urged Biden to address Angola’s domestic challenges, including alleged abuses by security forces.
Amnesty International reported that at least 17 protesters were killed by police between 2020 and 2023, while critics of the government remain detained. Advocacy groups called on Biden to press for accountability and reforms during his meetings with Angolan leaders.
On Wednesday, Biden will travel to the port city of Lobito for a summit on infrastructure investment, where leaders from Angola, the DRC, Tanzania, and Zambia will join discussions on regional development.
