Browsing: China Africa Influence

• The Lobito railway project is central to Biden’s inaugural visit to Africa.
• President Biden seeks to enhance United States influence through the establishment of an additional rail connection to Zambia.
• A primary reason for the investment is to secure access to Africa’s abundant mineral resources.

Lobito Railway Central to Biden’s Africa Visit

President Biden, undertaking the inaugural visit to Africa by a sitting U.S. president in nearly a decade, considers the trip as an opportunity to mitigate Chinese influence in the continent and gain access to essential minerals that are vital for transitioning the global economy away from carbon-based fuels.

Central to this initiative is the 1,100-mile Lobito railway, which historically facilitated the transportation of uranium from the Congo for the Manhattan Project. A $866 million upgrade is being implemented, with the objective of facilitating the transportation of minerals, including copper and cobalt, from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of …