The US is stepping up its presence in Africa to counter China’s growing
influence on the continent, with the $4 billion Lobito Corridor project
in Angola at the center of its move. This major railway project aims to
connect Angola’s Port of Lobito to Zambia and the Democratic Republic of
Congo, facilitating US and EU access to critical minerals like cobalt
and copper needed for the energy transition. According to Amos
Hochstein, the Special Presidential Coordinator for Global
Infrastructure and Energy Security, the US strategy involves leveraging
private investors and multilateral funding for commercially viable,
high-standard infrastructure projects in Africa. He contrasted this with
China’s approach which he claimed burdens developing countries with
high debt. The US committed $250 million to the project eighteen months
ago and has since mobilized the $4 billion needed to execute it.
SOURCE: SEMAFOR