Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Luanda ‒ When the first cases of cholera were reported in Angola on 7 January 2025 the response had to be immediate to avoid further human loss the country didn’t start from scratch community surveillance networks and logistical systems were quickly adapted to stop the spread of cholera in priority areas This support was crucial in the first oral vaccination campaign against cholera were reached in the most-affected provinces of Luanda In addition to securing oral cholera vaccine (OCV) for the campaign WHO provided key technical support in preparing vaccination plans training vaccinators and surveillance officers and conducting independent campaign monitoring António Morais makes his way towards the vaccination team set up in his neighbourhood’s community centre after taking the first dose of the vaccine I consider myself immunized; my joy can be summed up in a few words ‒ thank you The oral cholera vaccination campaign strategy included the installation of fixed posts in health units as well as the deployment of mobile teams to remote areas the response also included complementary actions such as active detection of cholera cases community mobilization and immediate treatment of cases These measures were essential to stop the spread of the disease in communities with limited access to basic services Vaccination and social mobilizer teams were made up of the same dedicated volunteers who participate in local polio immunization campaigns community-based volunteers who serve as polio surveillance focal points were retrained to identify and report suspected cholera cases these volunteers were vital in the response leveraging their local knowledge and trust within communities “With the reinforcement of community mobilization and support we had a positive response and managed to achieve 99.5% coverage thanks to the strong awareness-raising work.” — Dr Maria Quaresma Gomes dos Anjos “With the support of the structures created in the context of polio It is this foundation that has allowed us to protect more people in less time Avoiding more deaths from a disease that can be prevented and treated is everyone's responsibility partners and the community itself.” — Dr Indrajit Hazarika in all the provinces affected by the outbreak are vaccinated and more aware of the risks of cholera and ways to prevent it Designed and produced by ACW continues to face growing threats to public health including the ongoing cholera outbreak affecting several provinces the Ministry of Health has taken concrete measures to enhance the country’s capacity to prepare for and coordinate responses to public health emergencies.  A central part of this effort is the establishment of Public Health Emergency Operations Centres (PHEOCs) specialized coordination hubs housed within the National Directorate of Public Health (DNSP) and overseen technically by the Department of Hygiene and Epidemiological Surveillance (DVE) These centres are designed to support timely and efficient multisectoral coordination not only during outbreaks and health emergencies but also through continuous risk monitoring event and community-based surveillance via hotlines and data from the CPDE to maintain real-time situational awareness.  with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) the Ministry of Health led a series of strategic activities to strengthen Angola’s PHEOC system This included the development and multisectoral review of key governance documents such as the National PHEOC Handbook These tools were validated through a participatory workshop involving national stakeholders and partners.  The process was further complemented by an introductory training on public health emergency management and PHEOC operations followed by a tabletop simulation exercise conducted from 14 to 17 April 2025 The simulation presented a scenario of extensive flooding leading to a cholera outbreak allowing participants to test coordination mechanisms and apply the newly developed documents in a realistic setting.  The initiative brought together 30 participants from across sectors as well as representatives from regional and international partners such as the Africa CDC the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) Angola has made meaningful progress in operationalizing its emergency coordination systems. “From developing and validating key documents to conducting targeted training and simulation exercises the country has taken major steps in the right direction but sustaining progress will require continuous capacity building especially through improved information-sharing mechanisms,” he said.  The initiative has strengthened internal organization and team readiness a Department of Hygiene and Epidemiological Surveillance technician at the DNSP.  “This training will greatly help us improve our ability to respond to public health emergencies in a coordinated and organized manner We also had the opportunity to review and validate the manual and SOPs guiding the PHEOC’s functioning it reinforced the readiness of each team member to fulfill their role with responsibility and efficiency,” she said.  The strengthening of Angola’s PHEOCs is aligned with the International Health Regulations (IHR) It builds on global best practices such as standardized incident management systems and participation in regional knowledge networks.  Angola is making tangible progress toward fully operationalizing its PHEOC system and effective response to future public health emergencies.  May 5 (Reuters) – A team of officials from the International Monetary Fund will visit Angola this week as the country edges closer to a new loan deal with the lender due to pressure following the slide in crude oil prices which is Sub-Saharan Africa’s second-biggest crude oil exporter had to pay $200 million last month after JPMorgan demanded more security for its Total Return Swap a loan backed by Angola’s dollar bonds The IMF did not immediately provide more details on the mission to Angola and the expected outcomes Finance Minister Vera Daves de Sousa told Reuters that the drop in oil prices had made a new loan deal with the IMF more likely adding that the government was studying the potential full impact on its finances (Reporting by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Mark Potter Get the best of CNBC Africa sent straight to your inbox with breaking business news insights and updates from experts across the continent Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about about our products and services. 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African Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. the export credit agency said in a notice dated 2 May 2025 UK-based Innovo Projects is executing the construction contract commissioned by Angola’s Ministry of Public Works and Spatial Planning UKEF’s support allows the Angolan government to finance Innovo Group’s contract using funds arranged by Standard Chartered Bank and rehabilitation of 22 sub-projects across Benguela located west of Angola A key aim of the project is to provide critical infrastructure rehabilitation in order to improve the living conditions for communities reducing the risk and impact of flooding and other climate related events (Writing by SA Kader; Editing by Anoop Menon) Subscribe to our Projects' PULSE newsletter that brings you trustworthy news updates and insights on project activities and partnerships across sectors in the Middle East and Africa Get insights and exclusive content from the world of business and finance that you can trust Source:  TOI Context: Prime Minister of India held bilateral talks with Angolan President João Lourenço in New Delhi offering a $200 million defence credit line and expanding ties in infrastructure About Angola: Google Map+ Google Map+ Google Map+ Google Map+ Google Map+ Google Map+ Insights IAS: Simplifying UPSC IAS Exam Preparation Contact Us: Call us at 080 69405205 (toll-free) Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to participate in the Scholarship Test A cholera outbreak in Angola has spread to 16 of the country's 21 provinces since the first of the year, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in an outbreak notice late last week.  officials have recorded 8,543 cholera cases and 329 deaths (case-fatality rate [CFR] with one third of deaths occurring in the community and outside of medical treatment centers Luanda (48.5%) and Bengo (29.1%) provinces have the highest burden of disease.  "The outbreak initially saw a rapid increase in cases exceeding 1,000 weekly cases in early February This was followed by a decline and a plateau with case numbers stabilizing at approximately 800 cases per week for a month," the WHO said reaching 1,200—the highest weekly count to date Children ages 6 to 14 years represent 23.1% of the total cases and 21.7% of cases are in teens and young adults aged 15 to 24 years Angola has historically battled cholera outbreaks that typically follow rainy seasons Neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia are also experiencing cholera outbreaks Inadequate access to clean water and sanitation continues to leave Angola highly vulnerable to cholera outbreaks "Inadequate access to clean water and sanitation continues to leave Angola highly vulnerable to cholera outbreaks especially in densely populated urban centers and remote rural communities," the WHO said and Angola's proximity to cholera-affected countries the risk of further spread within Angola and to neighboring countries is considered very high." Samples of the cat food from one lot were collected by the New York City Department of Health and tested by Cornell University and were positive The findings were confirmed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory “Illnesses in cats that have consumed this product have been reported in other states and in New York City,” health officials said. An earlier report said the products were distributed in California sporadic H5N1 deaths and illnesses in cats have been linked to other raw pet food brands In other developments, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed one more H5N1 detection in dairy cattle raising the national total to 995 across 17 states since March 2024 Also, APHIS confirmed two more detections in poultry one at a farm in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County and the other a live bird market in New York’s Queens County Contracting a non-COVID lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) raises your risk of death two to seven times over the next month to a year, according to a study last week in Open Forum Infectious Diseases researchers with the health consulting firm Avalere and drug company Pfizer retrospectively analyzed de-identified US adult patient data from Optum's Clinformatics Data Mart Database from 2013 through 2018 The research team considered all LRTI illnesses—caused by influenza or other pathogens—occurring within 60 days of each other as part of the same episode among about 60,200 patients hospitalized for LRTI 30-day mortality risk was 5.8% and 360-day risk was 18.3% which were 7.5 and 2.6 times higher than outcomes for comparison patients Among roughly 2.4 million ambulatory patients 30-day risk of death was 1.2% and 360-day risk was 3.6% which was 6.5 and 2.1 times higher than comparison patients.  "Among both LRTI-hospitalized and LRTI-ambulatory patients mortality risk increased with increasing age and was higher for adults with chronic or immunocompromising conditions (vs without medical conditions)," the study authors write They add that their findings are comparable to the limited data available from previously published studies Implementing strategies to prevent LRTI in adults of all ages has the potential to yield important public health and patient benefits "The findings from this study indicate that LRTI patients have elevated mortality risks compared to matched comparison patients especially those of older ages and with worse comorbidity profiles (irrespective of age) Implementing strategies to prevent LRTI in adults of all ages has the potential to yield important public health and patient benefits." Global Virus Network scientists highlight the need for robust surveillance and readiness for potential human-to-human viral transmission only the severe infections continued to cause symptoms.  Almost 90% of the European cases were reported in Romania The Wall Street Journal reports the Trump administration is investing $500 million in the universal vaccine project There are currently 59 herds quarantined in 4 Idaho counties The CDC today addressed what's known about treatments pushed by Kennedy urging caution about vitamin A use and citing individual decision-making by heath providers for others Yet uptake of the vaccine was extremely low—less than 4% through November 2024 Today Novavax weighed in on the FDA's latest stipulations noting that postmarketing commitments aren't unusual and are in place for many approved drugs and biologics 44% of respondents said the new leaders will make them trust their health recommendations less than they used to and Ohio notes an infection in an unvaccinated adult CIDRAP - Center for Infectious Disease Research & PolicyResearch and Innovation Office Email us © 2025 Regents of the University of Minnesota All rights Reserved.The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer Research and Innovation Office |   Contact U of M  |  Privacy Policy Newsletter subscribe Two key outcomes from the visit of Angola’s President Joao Manuel Lourenco to Delhl: As Chair of the African Union, Lourenço expressed interest in working with India to revive the India-Africa Forum Summit with both sides agreeing to coordinate dates and agendas for the much-anticipated fourth edition The other was the announcement of a $200 million Indian line of credit to  help Angola modernise its armed forces Angola can procure critical defence equipment and infrastructure especially from Indian public and private sector companies Angola is also seeking to source transport vehicles At a briefing by the External Affairs Ministry senior diplomat Dammu Ravi confirmed that Angola has expressed interest in Indian support for the overhaul and servicing of its existing Russian-origin platforms He also said that “Defence cooperation is expected to expand into capacity-building programs with training and technical assistance as core elements.” PM Modi has offered tailored training modules in counter-terrorism and cyber security, which, according to Dammu Ravi, could form part of a broader, long-term defence engagement President Lourenco joined Prime Minister Modi in condemning the Pahalgam attack and its cross-border ramifications Ravi said that although an official statement from the African Union is still awaited Angola’s condemnation of the attacks in its capacity as AU Chair is significant Angola’s quest for agricultural revival following decades of civil conflict formed a core part of the dialogue Ravi noted that Angola is keen on developing self-sufficiency in food production and India is prepared to support this transformation Some key initiatives include supply of agricultural machinery such as tractors and irrigation systems; technology transfer for improved crop yields; exploration of long-term land leasing by Indian agribusinesses to grow food crops in Angola were discussed as a viable and sustainable crop Given Angola’s vast de-mined and cultivable land the potential for Indian investment and partnership in agriculture is substantial Ravi highlighted India’s continued interest in Angola as a major oil supplier while noting that country’s recent accession to the International Solar Alliance (ISA)—a move expected to advance clean energy cooperation and solar project development Space cooperation is an exciting area of interest currently operating a satellite control centre with French assistance is looking to partner with India for low-cost satellite solutions and technology transfer PM Modi has offered support through ISRO’s expertise in satellite building India’s pioneering model of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) was another topic of interest is exploring ways to adopt digital systems for governance “The two countries are expected to work together on capacity building and software infrastructure Three key MoUs were signed during the visit including: Agricultural development and cooperation; Cultural exchange including a Youth Exchange Program to promote people-to-people ties; Traditional medicine with India offering to support local production of Ayurvedic and pharmaceutical products Ravi noted that Angola requested Indian assistance in healthcare delivery India is exploring opportunities to send doctors and paramedics and possibly establish pharmaceutical manufacturing units in Angola The visiting leader praised India’s growing global leadership and supported New Delhi’s call for reforms in the UN Security Council Ravi confirmed that both leaders discussed the need for the UN to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities including greater representation for African nations and India The Argentina national team could play Angola in November and play matches in China and Qatar Argentina have four friendly matches to play in October and November after the World Cup qualifiers. According to Diario Olé there is a chance that the Argentina national team plays a friendly match in November against Angola in Angola It would be a friendly match against Angola to celebrate their 50 years of independance. According to Gastón Edul the Argentina national team could play two friendly matches in China in October Another friendly match would take place in Qatar USA and Angola next friendly matchs in October and November Good Senegal will be a good test a long with Cameroon not sure Ghana thought Log in to leave a comment Mundo Albiceleste is your home for all the latest news about the Argentina National Football team in English Anastácio Sasembele – Luanda and Vatican News The Angolan government embarked on a national reconciliation plan and process at the end of 2019 as a way to redress some of the injustices and tensions arising from the long civil war and the reconciliation process is therefore meant to address the wounds caused by the conflict The process has been described as "delayed transitional justice." It has faced many challenges in addressing the legacies of the conflict Some observers believe that the process has stalled and there is need for political will to get it going Speaking as part of Holy Week and Angola’s Peace Day Justice Cristiano André stated that his compatriots need to come to terms with their past “Angolans need to reconnect and ease their inner turmoil,” he said April is recognised as the month of peace and national reconciliation in Angola Justice Cristiano Andre also expressed worry about the harsh social and economic conditions facing many families stating that this situation undermines peace and reconciliation in Angola he said there was hope for better days ahead Angola will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its independence on 11 November Angola’s conflict from 1975 to 2002 was brutal It is estimated to have cost the lives of more than 500,000 civilians The country has still not recovered from the damage to its infrastructure The war was seen as a proxy conflict of the Cold War with the MPLA governing party being supported by the Soviet Union while UNITA was backed by the USA and its Western allies government troops killed the leader of UNITA UNITA was brought to the negotiating table A peace agreement was signed on 4 April 2002 Thank you for reading our article. 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Just click here Africa Intelligence brings you exclusive coverage of the major political economic and diplomatic issues at stake on the African continent identifying power players on the rise and low-frequency signals on the horizon Peruse our daily story summaries to get the scoop on tomorrow's top stories ahead of the crowd We will not use your address for advertising or commercial purposes Discover our work by making use of the following possibilities: daily newsletters Do you want a free trial before subscribing A cookie is a text file placed on the hard drive of your terminal (computer It aims to make browsing more fluid and to offer you content and services tailored to your interests These cookies are required to ensure the reliability and security and our website They are also used to create and log into your user account Three ways to create your email notifications: Do not hesitate to create your own notifications according to your interests : better criteria narrows down the results You can modify or delete your notifications or summaries in your account Sign up for real-time alerts and be notified of new editions you will be notified by a short message on your computer or mobile phone as soon as a new edition of our publication or an alert is published News / Press Releases 23 April 2025 | In a strong act of continental solidarity President of the Republic of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union announced a landmark voluntary contribution of USD 5 million to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reaffirming Angola’s leadership and enduring commitment to strengthening regional health security and sustainable health financing The announcement came after a high-level meeting held earlier that week in Luanda between President Lourenço and Dr the two leaders discussed regional health priorities and the urgent need to mitigate the impact of declining development assistance Kaseya commended President Lourenço’s bold and visionary leadership: “President Lourenço’s leadership reflects Africa’s collective determination to finance our health future,” said Dr “This commitment is not only historic—it sends a powerful signal that Africa is ready to lead from the front with bold investments and African-led solutions.” President Lourenço also committed to convening a Committee of African Heads of State to champion the implementation of Africa CDC’s continental strategy “Rethinking African Health Financing in a New Era” — a bold response to the sharp 70% decline in external development assistance for health across the continent Kaseya announced that Africa CDC will support Angola’s plan for production of mosquito bed nets —an initiative aimed at strengthening vector control and expanding regional production capacity President Lourenço welcomed Africa CDC’s commitment to advancing local manufacturing of health commodities and confirmed that a major national initiative aligned with this vision will soon be launched The two leaders also discussed Angola’s response to the ongoing cholera outbreak Kaseya commending the country’s efforts and reaffirming Africa CDC’s full financial and technical support He further acknowledged Angola’s essential role in advancing continental solidarity and public health resilience This announcement marks a major milestone in Africa CDC’s continued efforts to rally political leadership and unified continental action around the New Public Health Order and the Lusaka Agenda The agency continues to work closely with all AU Member States to build inclusive and resilient health systems for Africa’s 1.4 billion people AboutAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) For more information and media inquiries:Margaret Edwin | Director of Communication and Public Information | Africa CDC | EdwinM@africacdc.org ​Africa CDC strengthens the capacity and capability of Africa’s public health institutions as well as partnerships to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats and outbreaks based on data-driven interventions and programmes Tel: +251 11 551 77 00 | communications@africacdc.orgVisit Africa CDC on the African Union website News / Stories Angola received 2,000 life-saving oral cholera vaccines for frontline healthcare workers from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in March 2025 Principal Advisor to the Director General of Africa CDC on Programs Jean Kaseya at the handover ceremony of oral cholera vaccines in Luanda The vaccines are part of Africa CDC’s efforts to support Angola’s response to multiple health emergencies Africa CDC has deployed 10 healthcare experts to support surveillance It has also procured WASH supplies and provided capacity-building training for healthcare workers praised Africa CDC’s efforts in dedicating vaccines to frontline healthcare workers who put their lives on the line daily to care for those affected by infectious diseases like cholera This move recognizes the vital role healthcare workers play in combating these health crises Africa CDC has developed a three-month Incident Action Plan to help tackle the cholera outbreak in Angola the government of Angola received support from a multidisciplinary team of experts from Africa CDC’s Southern Africa Regional Coordinating Centre (SARCC) After the first case was confirmed in the municipality of Cacuaco the Angolan Ministry of Health declared a new cholera outbreak there have been 11,307 cases and 421 deaths since the outbreak began These cases have been reported in 17 out of 21 provinces: Namibe A total of 17 provinces have reported cholera cases to date and Icolo e Bengo are the epicentres of the cholera outbreak constituting approximately 98% of all cases A situational report from Africa CDC on February 28 shows that Bengo Province has the highest attack rate at 31.6 per 10,000 people This highlights how rural provinces with poor water and sanitation can see average attack rates over 5% Among the country’s response and control measures plays a significant role in the cholera outbreak response including making regular supportive visits to affected communities The Angolan government has a funded national response plan for cholera worth USD 6.5 million The country has activated technical working groups at national and provincial levels to coordinate the response Key pillars include coordination and leadership A national Cholera Interministerial Commission has been established The Commission holds weekly coordination meetings and conducts joint support visits to affected communities communities are now being provided with potable safe water has temporarily closed the Mabunda fish market due to poor water and sanitation services Authorities are coordinating the provision of clean water and sanitation services to the market and have issued an official closure notice There are plans to enhance the community referral system The government has established cholera treatment centres in all affected communities and created community oral rehydration points for case management The Ministry of Health received 948,500 doses of the Euvichol® vaccine on January 28 from the International Coordination Group on Vaccine Provision The oral cholera vaccination campaign took place in Luanda and Bengo provinces from February 3 to February 8 there is an average of 120 new cases and five deaths The report suggests that Africa CDC should continue to provide on-the-ground support for the cholera response including regular visits to treatment centres for technical support and assistance in investigating the outbreak and identifying risk factors in affected communities The report emphasizes the need for enhanced on-the-job training for health workers at cholera treatment centres This training should focus on surveillance It also recommends strengthening risk communication and engaging communities through multiple platforms to encourage early health-seeking behaviour and improve referrals “Africa CDC greatly appreciates the strides the Government of Angola has made toward the ongoing cholera response,” said Batsirai Mbodza Africa CDC’s Southern Africa Region Mpox Incident Manager The Africa CDC team on the ground is supporting government efforts in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team and partners in Angola Africa CDC recommends greater focus on and strengthened access to care and quality of care to reduce the current high case fatality rate,” said Mbodza Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times India and Angola have begun celebrations marking 40 years of their political relations although their connection goes back further During Angola's struggle for independence India supported the country with faith and friendship Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco to India This visit is the first by an Angolan president to India in 38 years The visit shows a renewed commitment to strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation across multiple sectors PM Modi acknowledged 40 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries He praised their historical solidarity and outlined a future plan focused on energy “I welcome President Lourenco and his delegation the President of Angola has arrived in India His visit is not only going to give a new direction to the relationship between India and Angola but also going to strengthen India-Africa ties India and Angola are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their political relations India was standing beside it with faith and friendship.” PM Modi spoke about the scope of bilateral cooperation India is one of the largest buyers of oil and gas from Angola We have decided to widen our energy partnership India has approved a USD 200 million credit line for the modernisation of Angola’s defence forces We will share our experience in digital public infrastructure space tech and capacity building with Angola,” he said “We would be happy to assist in training Angola’s armed forces Taking forward our development partnership we will share our capabilities with Angola in digital public infrastructure we have also decided to further strengthen our ties in healthcare “The popularity of yoga and Bollywood in Angola is a symbol of the strength of our cultural ties To strengthen our people-to-people relations we have decided to start a youth exchange programme among our youth.” PM Modi met President Lourenco at Hyderabad House PM Modi also held a bilateral meeting with President Lourenco at Hyderabad House Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri joined the meeting MyIndMakers is a New Age Media Company established in 2015 to enable the exchange of Global Ideas and Solutions Join our mailing list to stay up to date and get notices about our new releases © 2025 MyIndMakers - All Rights Reserved Union Minister and BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda met the President of Angola Mr Nadda congratulated President Lourenco on assuming the Chairmanship of the African Union He also shared insights into the BJP’s organisational framework and ongoing activities while highlighting the party’s inclusive outreach to diverse communities He also proposed initiating a delegation-level exchange between the BJP and the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) to strengthen mutual ties The conversation also focused on key healthcare initiatives of the Narendra Modi government especially those aimed at empowering vulnerable groups Both leaders noted the steady advancement of India-Angola bilateral relations over the past decade and discussed opportunities for enhanced cooperation President Lourenco had arrived in New Delhi on the 2nd of this month on a three-day State Visit to India Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 News On Air Last Updated: 6th May 2025  |  Visitors: 1480625 weeks before the end to his storied political career One would be forgiven for asking if the visit is too little an increasingly important partner for the U.S Biden’s visit will also highlight the Lobito Corridor initiative an innovative and potentially impactful undertaking by the U.S. and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as well as other key stakeholders in the region One of President Biden’s early initiatives was the launch of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) at the G7 Summit in Germany in 2022. A key PGII goal was to narrow the investment gap for quality infrastructure Unstated was the intention among the G7 members to provide an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative At the G7 summit in Japan a year later, the Biden administration announced the Lobito Corridor initiative as part of PGII The undertaking is intended to expand and modernize the transportation corridor connecting the DRC and Zambia with global markets through the port of Lobito The ultimate vision is to create an open-access rail line from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean In a region where the U.S. was expelled from its military base in Niger and has been unable to negotiate an end to the conflict in Sudan which is facing a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions the Lobito Corridor initiative could bolster the standing of the U.S.in Africa for several reasons the initiative is a unique collaboration between the U.S. and African financial institutions to develop a vital infrastructure project it could become a blueprint for future multilateral engagements on the continent Finally, the Lobito Corridor is the quickest and most efficient route for exporting critical minerals from the central African copper belt on to the U.S. and Europe. Enhancing access to critical minerals is a bipartisan issue in the U.S Congress which could lead to continued support for the project in an otherwise divided U.S upgrading 4G and 5G digital connectivity across the nation and bringing 500 megawatts of solar power to the grid which coincides with the country’s 50th anniversary of its independence These initiatives, especially the Lobito Corridor initiative, reflect the White House strategy toward sub-Saharan Africa that seeks to develop a deeper bench of partners and more flexible regional architecture President Biden will have the opportunity to highlight the progress his administration has had in implementing this strategy which will be embraced by his successor in the White House Which language would you like to use this site in Responding to the release of five arbitrarily detained government critics in Angola after more than a year behind bars Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa We are overjoyed that they are home with their loved ones these five people should never have been locked up Authorities arrested them solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly We look forward to them receiving the medical care that authorities deliberately denied them in prison “Angola’s government must respect everyone’s rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and end arbitrary detention and torture in the country They must urgently hold accountable anyone suspected of responsibility for violating the rights of these five activists.”  Angola’s President Joao Lourenço announced pardons for social media influencer Ana da Silva Miguel (known as Neth Nahara) and activists Adolfo Campos Hermenegildo Victor José (known as Gildo das Ruas) Gilson Moreira (known as Tanaice Neutro) and Abraão Pedro Santos (known as Pensador) Authorities released Neth Nahara on 1 January 2025 and released the other four on 6 January 2025 Authorities arrested Neth Nahara on 13 August 2023 in her home in Angola’s capital Luanda after she broadcast a live TikTok video criticizing President Lourenço Police arrested the other four activists on 16 September 2023 in Luanda before a planned protest in solidarity with motorcycle taxi drivers Angola’s government must respect everyone’s rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and end arbitrary detention and torture in the country Authorities deliberately denied healthcare in detention for some of the five, including urgent surgery and daily HIV medication Amnesty International campaigned extensively for the release of the five with petitions, public statements, events and more, and supported them through their families and legal representatives during their imprisonment. Neth Nahara was featured in 2024’s Write for Rights Amnesty International’s biggest human rights campaign Together we can fight for human rights everywhere Your donation can transform the lives of millions If you are talented and passionate about human rights then Amnesty International wants to hear from you Photo: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images This commentary is the second installment of a new column from the Africa Program called the Dizolele Brief which connects the dots between seemingly disparate events and developments in Africa This week President Joe Biden delivers on his promise to visit Africa from the 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit and becomes the first sitting U.S The trip happens at the tail end of the president’s term raising questions about the impact of the trip the dissonance between discourse and actions reinforced the sense that Africa was not a priority for the United States presidential visits to African countries often have been justified by some democratic progress presidents’ visits are often cast as a reward to African leaders who have demonstrated that they have learned and applied the right lessons in democracy and good governance—the good students a visit rewards a leader’s commitment to the defense of Western security and economic interests president is perceived as an endorsement by the United States and the West Biden’s visit signals a commitment to a region whose importance has long been understated And given Angola’s circumstances and contentious and brutal history with the United States The United States and Angola were on opposite sides of the Cold War during the war of independence against Portugal which pitted Angolan nationalists against each other with the backing of the United States the Soviet Union also drew in the armed forces of Cuba Independence degenerated into a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002 with the killing of Jonas Savimbi the leader of the U.S.-backed National Union for the Total Independence of Angola In a development reminiscent of U.S.-Vietnam relations Biden’s visit is the culmination of the rapprochement between Angola and the United States that started more than 30 years ago The two countries only exchanged envoys and opened embassies in 1993 Many of the rising senior civil servants and emerging leaders of the ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA)’s party structures studied in Cuba often starting at an early age in primary school He has watched the rapprochement unfold from the beginning when his predecessor Eduardo dos Santos He has served in different capacities as a general He has continued to strengthen bilateral relations which range from defense and security to infrastructure investment the rapprochement has led to exuberance about “flipping” Angola to the U.S it is important to keep these developments in perspective Angola’s leadership is fragmented into several camps which include the Luso-Angolans (whites and mestizos); generals (war veterans); securocrats from the intelligence and affiliated services; and rising anti-imperialist promote engagement with the United States and the MPLA’s pro-Russia camp Other quarters question the value and benefits of a partnership with the United States Changes in the defense and security sector which has benefitted from support from the old Soviet bloc have increased these tensions as Lourenço accepts U.S equipment to upgrade the military and diversify away from Russia a step that affects Angola-Russia relations Department of Defense and the Africa Command have been building a strong relationship of trust with the Angolan counterparts But Angola is not necessarily ready to “flip.” On November 10 and acquired telecommunications and information technology equipment Angola has achieved important gains since independence in 1975 and the end of its civil war in 2002 is grappling with the consequences of an incomplete peace process that has not addressed the root causes of the two wars undermining the much-needed national reconciliation MPLA’s winner-takes-all approach to governance created an influential wealthy elite that resists the changes that are required for the economic development of the country as these would threaten their interests The changes include anti-corruption measures facilitating international private investment The unfinished peace process gave way to a regime of intolerance that brooks no dissent and rejects different political perspectives and criticism Lourenço secured his second and last term in 2022 But he is facing growing public discontent While the war legacy continues to shape the country’s politics most Angolans did not participate in the civil war and do not subscribe to the war discourse They have grown impatient with the ruling party and expressed their frustration at the ballot box it was UNITA that won in the capital city of Luanda UNITA’s strong showing means that MPLA will face more popular opposition in the next presidential election The president’s popularity among Angolans has fallen due to unemployment The anti-corruption initiative he launched in his first term is seen as an effective way for the president to silence and neutralize his enemies and potential challengers It is also an extension of identity politics that drives political and economic power among Angolan elites Angola has large critical resource reserves, including oil and diamonds, with a wide network of waterways. As sub-Saharan Africa’s second-largest oil producer, it pumps 1.16 million barrels of oil a day. The country, however, has accumulated $66 billion (about 70.3 percent of its GDP) in debt The country diverts an estimated two-thirds of its oil production to service the debt to China The coverage of the trip has focused on the Lobito Corridor the flagship investment of the Biden administration in Africa which is financed through the G7’s $600 billion Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment seeks to increase western access to critical mineral reserves in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia the Lobito Corridor project has generated a lot of interest due to the potential upside it offers for the parties concerned charge that it is as extractive and exploitative as the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative Whereas the Chinese exports the minerals via the Indian Ocean the corridor will do the same but via the Atlantic presents a collaboration opportunity between the United States and China two adversaries who are key and indispensable investors in the corridor China dominates the mining sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia Time will tell whether the two adversaries will cooperate It is impossible to discount Russian influence in Angola The Soviet Union guaranteed the MPLA’s victory during the wars Russian companies have invested in the extractive industry Russia enjoys substantial soft power and goodwill as most Angolan generals and many civilian elites have been educated in the Soviet Union and speak Russian A visit to Angola easily reveals the inequitable distribution of resources Post-civil war infrastructure projects that Angola financed thanks to billions of dollars the country borrowed from China are built in the southern regions The capital city of Luanda has also benefited from new infrastructure projects have not received the same level of attention from the government even these regions contribute enormously to Angola’s wealth the northern provinces of Zaire and Cabinda produce 55 percent and 35 percent of Angola’s oil revenues This disparity in public service investment is a key driver of public discontent As Biden visits Angola and engages with the leadership the Angolans will be watching whether he raises this disparity and related human rights abuses and civic rights infringements They will scrutinize the gap between pronouncements and actions The success of this engagement will depend on the U.S commitment to center these bilateral relations on the Angolan people To learn more about Angola, please read the Africa Program’s report Mvemba Phezo Dizolele is a senior fellow and director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington Commentary is produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) tax-exempt institution focusing on international public policy issues Its research is nonpartisan and nonproprietary CSIS does not take specific policy positions and conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s) © 2024 by the Center for Strategic and International Studies See Media Page for more interview, contact, and citation details. ©2025 Center for Strategic & International Studies. All Rights Reserved. European manufacturer Petrotec has joined the upcoming Angola Oil&gas (AOG) conference as a Silver Sponsor reflecting its commitment to supporting the expansion of the country’s oil and gas value chain The company leverages innovation and technology to strengthen mobility and seeks to support Angola’s downstream expansion through new mobility solutions Angola is striving to position itself as both a major exporter and regional petroleum distributor A recent government drive to expand the downstream oil sector has seen new opportunities emerge for infrastructure players and companies such as Petrotec stand to play an instrumental role in accelerating the development of fuel stations and associated projects Petrotec has committed to supporting Angola’s fuel mobility expansion the company hosted a delegation by Angola’s national oil company Sonangol at various Petrotec facilities enabling Petrotec to showcase its cutting-edge solutions and technologies The visit included a tour of the company’s research and development unit exploring Petrotec’s vision for the future of mobility; a tour of the innovation and industry center showcasing the company’s latest forecourt equipment and technologies; and its new industrial unit in Póvoa de Lanhoso set to produce Hellonext's sophisticated EV chargers Sonangol additionally conducted a tour of various fuel station sites in the region thereby strengthening knowledge-exchange between the companies Petrotec offers substantial expertise in the manufacturing of equipment for fuel stations The company’s solutions cover the entire mobility value chain this expertise stands to support efforts by the country to strengthen its downstream industry Petrotec’s sponsorship of AOG 2025 underscores its commitment to this cause and is expected to further boost collaboration across the industry Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release The press release is provided for informational purposes only legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability value or profitability of any particular security Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law its affiliates and the respective shareholders content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages here's a taste of what Angola has to offer here's a taste of what Angola has to offer '+n.escapeExpression("function"==typeof(o=null!=(o=r(e,"eyebrowText")||(null!=l?r(l,"eyebrowText"):l))?o:n.hooks.helperMissing)?o.call(null!=l?l:n.nullContext||{},{name:"eyebrowText",hash:{},data:t,loc:{start:{line:28,column:63},end:{line:28,column:78}}}):o)+" \n '+(null!=(o=c(e,"if").call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2PreText"):l,{name:"if",hash:{},fn:n.program(32,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:63,column:20},end:{line:63,column:61}}}))?o:"")+"\n"+(null!=(o=(c(e,"ifAll")||l&&c(l,"ifAll")||n.hooks.helperMissing).call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Text"):l,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Link"):l,{name:"ifAll",hash:{},fn:n.program(34,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:64,column:20},end:{line:70,column:30}}}))?o:"")+" The Lobito Corridor is the first strategic economic corridor launched under the flagship G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) In the margins of the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023 the EU and the US released a Joint Statement teaming up to support the development of the Corridor.  The Lobito Corridor will unlock the enormous potential of the region the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia and create added value and jobs through investments and soft measures Announced through a EU-US Joint Statement in the margins of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) event at the G20 in India in September 2023 the Lobito Corridor is a key priority under the G7’s PGII The EU and the US are co-leading the support for the Corridor's development soft measures for trade and transit facilitation investments in related sectors to foster sustainable and inclusive growth and capital investments (agriculture value chains technical and vocational education and training) along the Corridor in Angola During the Global Gateway Forum in October 2023 the EU and the US signed - together with Angola the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) - a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to define the roles and objectives for the Corridor’s expansion the Ministers responsible for Transport and Corridor Development from Angola with support and coordination of the Secretariat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) signed the Lobito Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (LCTTFA) Agreement The LCTTFA Agreement aims to provide an effective and efficient route that facilitates the transportation of goods within territories between the three Corridor Member States The goal is to support greater participation of SMEs in business value chains with the view of increasing trade and economic growth along the Lobito Corridor and across the SADC Region Once transport infrastructure connecting all three countries is fully operational, the line will enhance export possibilities for Zambia boost the regional circulation of goods and promote the mobility of citizens. By significantly reducing the average transport time the Corridor will lower the logistics costs and carbon footprint for exporting metals and other products as well as for future development of any mineral discoveries the Government of the United States of America the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States A lock ( ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website Share sensitive information only on official CDC works with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and other partners to build effective public health collaboration and partnerships which strengthen the country's core public health capabilities: data and surveillance CDC established an office in Angola in 2002. CDC Angola works closely with the Government of Angola and partner organizations to detect, prevent and control infectious disease outbreaks and build and strengthen the country's core public health capabilities CDC's work aims to protect the health of our nations and public health around the world CDC Angola supports the MOH with outbreak investigations and disease surveillance CDC also supports laboratory system strengthening and diagnostics for diseases such as COVID-19 CDC works closely with the National AIDS Program and the MOH to support the HIV response and public health workforce development CDC assists the Angolan National AIDS Institute (INLS) to enhance the integrated laboratory network which is a core component of the overall healthcare system CDC helps implement the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) Previous collaborative efforts to strengthen laboratory and disease surveillance systems laid a foundation for CDC's COVID-19 response: CDC collaborates with the MOH to address HIV through PEPFAR CDC strengthens laboratory and workforce capacity Under the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, CDC assigned a resident advisor to support implementation of malaria control measures in six provinces CDC partners with the National Malaria Control Program to: CDC's Global Health Center works 24/7 to reduce illness and respond to health threats worldwide Authorities in Angola must hold police officers accountable for killing injuring or traumatizing dozens of people during protests between November 2020 and June 2023 Amnesty International said in a new report Police must also stop attacking protesters and respect and uphold everyone’s right to freedom of assembly The report, Broken promises: protesters caught between tear gas, bullets and batons in Angola reveals a pattern of excessive and unnecessary use of force by police under Angola’s president João Lourenço Amnesty International investigated police actions at eleven protests and found that officers deployed live bullets and tear gas against demonstrators while beating and arbitrarily detaining others in violation of Angolan and international law “People in Angola protested when President João Lourenço didn’t live up to his electoral promises But instead of respecting the right to peaceful assembly police under Lourenço’s leadership cracked down with brutal force Amnesty’s research documents a child shot dead limbs burned by tear gas canisters hurled at crowds and vicious beatings in police custody resulting in deep physical and emotional scars Angolan authorities still have held no one accountable for these violations The victims and their families deserve justice now,” said Khanyo Farisè Amnesty’s research shows Angolan police routinely responded to protests by violating the rights to life and inflicting beatings which could amount to torture and ill-treatment as well as violating the rights to liberty and security of a person and freedom of peaceful assembly police shot and killed 26-year-old Inocêncio de Matos during a protest in the capital Luanda against postponed municipal elections reportedly as he knelt with his hands in the air police killed at least ten people after opening fire on an anti-poverty protest in the diamond-mining town of Cafunfo police shot and killed 32-year-old Adão José Andre Caoluna and 35-year-old Luís António Lourenço during a Federation of Construction Unions strike at the Hidroeléctica de Caculo Cabaça (CGGC) company in Cambambe A witness said police shot Dorito with two bullets in the back and head while he tried to explain to officers the reasons for the strike The police violence against protesters in Angola under President João Lourenço’s administration is stomach-churning Meanwhile on 5 June 2023 in Huambo province Rapid Intervention Force (PIR) officers fired live bullets on a crowd protesting high fuel prices three of whom were bystanders including 12-year-old Cristiano Luis Pambasangue Tchiuta who was walking to school Police also used unnecessary and excessive force by excessively deploying tear gas at numerous demonstrations which is prohibited against peaceful protesters Numerous direct hits by tear gas canisters left gruesome burns requiring skin grafts such as 32-year-old Avisto Chingolola Mateus Mbota who was beaten on the back until he lost consciousness during a protest over disputed election results on 27 August 2022 in Benguela three police beat António Feliciano Buengue Pongoti to the floor with batons and then stuffed a grenade in his mouth and whipped him on the buttocks “The police violence against protesters in Angola under President João Lourenço’s administration is stomach-churning These assaults have often left debilitating long-lasting effects on victims and their families making it even more difficult for them to earn a decent and dignified livelihood Angolan police must respect people’s right to protest,” said Khanyo Farisè None of the officers or their superiors responsible for the human rights violations Amnesty documented have faced justice In the few instances where official investigations were promised authorities have not publicized their conclusions the official responses have been insulting authorities convicted a protest leader for alleged offences but did not even investigate the police for killings they acknowledged instead of dispensing justice to families of slain protesters The depravity of these crimes is matched only by the disregard for justice that followed authorities entirely ignored some allegations against police who police assaulted with batons during a protest in Luanda in February 2021 said filing an official complaint would be a “waste of time.” “No inquiry Amnesty International requested an official explanation on the allegations of human rights violations and steps taken to provide justice to the victims “The depravity of these crimes is matched only by the disregard for justice that followed The Attorney General’s Office must immediately initiate investigations into police killings of protesters and bystanders and ensure that perpetrators – whether senior or junior officers – are brought to justice in fair trials must investigate cases of unlawful use of force and submit their findings to Angolan authorities for action,” said Khanyo Farisè Fátima showing the beans she harvested from her field The foggy morning and intense cold in the village of Seles posed significant challenges for anyone wanting to venture out these natural barriers didn't deter Fatima Domingas from seeking help at the Integrated Social Action Center (CASI) for her children's identity documents (ID) Despite the constitutional right of all Angolan citizens (over the age of 6) to have an ID The daily struggle to provide for her children had left Fatima with no time to obtain their documents Whether it's supporting human capital related services such as IDs and education (as in the case of Fatima and her children) or creating or expanding a secure source of income the Kwenda beneficiaries we interviewed told us the program has changed their lives she was able to purchase essential household items and start her own farm This newfound independence reduced her reliance on odd jobs and the food she produced on her farm significantly improved her family's living conditions These changes instill hope for a brighter future demonstrating the transformative power of Kwenda "I am a widow and a single parent to my children I had no day off and used to search for odd jobs every day to ensure that my family had something to eat I had no time to think about anything else My children had no identity documents but I could not do anything with the help and support I received from Kwenda That´s why today I was able to come here with my children to get their IDs and when we go home will have something to eat." – Fatima Domingos The benefits of Fatima's farm extend beyond providing her with a livelihood; it allows her children to focus on their education who is 15 years old and the eldest child of Fatima no longer has to accompany her mother in search of odd jobs This has allowed her to reignite her dream of becoming a nurse IDs are essential for students transitioning to secondary school the assistance Fatima’s children receive through the CASI is an important step to helping them achieve their dreams Fátima Domingos and four of her children showing their newly obtained birth certificates The impact of cash transfers to fight hunger Gone are the days when she used to sit sadly in hiding and cry because she couldn't provide enough food for her children Everything changed when the investments she made in her farm field with the money she received from Kwenda paid off she bought a mattress and a table with chairs She invested the rest in buying seeds and expanding her farm For the harvest scheduled for the third quarter of 2024 Regina plans to take all her produce to the markets in Luanda to get an even bigger dividend With the money she will make from her produce she plans to buy goods from Luanda that she will take to Bailundo´s market to make some profit thus diversifying her source of income beyond farming.  "My husband has another family and lives in another community This year the rain was good and my fields have yielded very well." – Regina Nhambimbe Regina Nhambimbe at the door of her house with her three children The difference in the number of meals that poor households eat daily is one of the most striking indicators among Kwenda beneficiaries after they receive their payment compared to before in communities that have already benefited from payments households have more meals than those waiting for the payments to reach their communities This is the reality found in the Fatima Calomete neighborhood in the village of Bailundo where many poor households struggle daily to feed themselves all demonstrate examples of how productive inclusion has been changing the lives of female heads of households in Angola Their households now have three diversified and balanced meals a day thanks to the income they earn from farming The three women are members of the Nikila Village Seed Bank Association each member was given eight kilos of beans Although their products were affected by the drought the production of their crops was satisfactory Each of the ladies returned 16kg of their harvest to the seed bank so that more community members could benefit from their yield.  The association members were aware that they should not sell or eat up their entire harvest the women tripled the quantity of seeds to be planted the results were even better than the first With the 101 kg I got from the first harvest gave back 16 kg to the seedbank and kept 20 kg for consumption I sent 25 kg of seeds to my relatives in Benguela for them to plant in their fields I sold some of the produce and used the money to buy mattresses I've extended my field further and hope that I'll have an even bigger harvest in November Two of my older children are attending university in Kuito and one is in primary school here." – Ines Nachitembo Inês Nachitembo (in the grey sweater) with three of her seven children The mathematics of development are impressive which started with an initial stock of 400 kg of bean seed supplied by Kwenda at the end of the first harvest had a return of more than 600 kg members could access quantities of seeds according to their own needs and farm’s strength villagers who are not members of the association have also been able to access the seed credit thus making the seed bank a support resource for the whole village and not just the association members While agriculture is the primary economic activity in the areas visited Kwenda beneficiaries have demonstrated creativity by implementing other income-generating initiatives and teenagers who were actively involved in digging a large pond on the edge of a stream They are part of the Associação Muda Meu Mundo (Change My World Association) which consists of 30 Kwenda beneficiaries who have decided to pool the money they received to expand beyond farming to dedicate themselves to raising and selling fish the association has two 300m2 ponds where they have raised fish for six months the association sold nearly 1.5 tons of fish to local residents during the festive season and I came up with the idea for this fish farming project We invited our neighbors and relatives from the village to join us We also received training on cooperativism and teamwork each member has a small fish pond on their farm The ponds you see here are owned by the cooperative and the members gather once a week to work on them," said Francisca Kussessiya Francisca Kussessiya of the fish farming cooperative in front of one of the ponds "These stories demonstrate the relevance and transformative role of social protection investments in Angola for the country to fully realize the potential of social protection it is key that these investments are long-term and also that critical complementary investments are made in related sectors and digitization,” says Boban Varghese Paul World Bank Task Team Leader for the project The Kwenda Program has already benefited 1 million households in 64 municipalities in 196 communes in 8,396 neighborhoods and villages of Angola “Kwenda is a great example of how the World Bank is supporting transformative change in Angola The World Bank has recently approved a new phase of financing to consolidate and deepen these impacts on Kwenda beneficiaries,” says Juan Carlos Alvarez The World Bank in Angola STAY CURRENT WITH OUR LATEST DATA & INSIGHTS This site uses cookies to optimize functionality and give you the best possible experience. 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To learn more about cookies, click here Home » Gallery » New Delhi: PM Modi and Angola President João Lourenço at the joint press meet #Gallery Angolan authorities must respect the rights of all people in the country anyone who publicly criticizes the government risks arrest If human rights are central to President Biden’s foreign policy then he must demand Angola’s government immediately and unconditionally free the five arbitrarily detained government critics and end the crackdown on the right to protest,” said Deprose Muchena Amnesty International Senior Director for Regional Human Rights Impact Neth Nahara is featured in this year’s Write for Rights then he must demand Angola’s government immediately and unconditionally free the five arbitrarily detained government critics and end the crackdown on the right to protest President Biden’s first and only trip to Africa will focus on American backing for the Lobito Corridor a major infrastructure project linking natural resource-rich areas of Angola Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia to Angola’s Atlantic coast Angola has vast mineral deposits and is Africa’s third largest oil producer But the country’s natural resource wealth has not translated to prosperity for most of its people resulting in numerous peaceful protests against poverty Angolan security forces have consistently responded to these and other protests with repression and violence Amnesty International has documented shocking cases of security forces arresting torturing and killing people during peaceful assemblies “The United States cannot pursue private sector development in Africa without also ensuring that the human rights of all people on the continent are prioritized Advocacy Director for Africa at Amnesty International USA “President Biden should use the opportunity of his visit to put pressure on the Angolan authorities to uphold the country’s international human rights obligations and protect the dignity and humanity of all people.”  Angolan police killed at least ten people in the diamond mining town of Cafunfo The United States cannot pursue private sector development in Africa without also ensuring that the human rights of all people on the continent are prioritized police shot and killed at least four people and arrested dozens during protests against high fuel costs police deployed tear gas and grenades against hundreds of demonstrators in Luanda police have violently broken up three peaceful demonstrations against government economic policies and repression police beat activists and arbitrarily detained people for up to ten hours before releasing them without charge Perpetrators have enjoyed near total impunity for the death or injury of these people and others contributing to further violence against protesters many people are afraid to protest in Angola and demonstrations against government policies are now rare There is a clear link between the unequal distribution of the proceeds of natural resource wealth in Angola and the government’s crackdown on protests and peaceful dissent President Lourenço’s government has also passed numerous laws which ban criticism of the president give the government excessive control of civil society organizations and stifle the rights to freedom of expression “There is a clear link between the unequal distribution of the proceeds of natural resource wealth in Angola and the government’s crackdown on protests and peaceful dissent If President Biden wants the US to help Angola extract and export natural resources he must not ignore the repression that goes with it Biden must be up front with President Lourenço and his government that protest rights are human rights,” said Deprose Muchena This press release was updated on 29 November 2024 to reflect the postponement of Biden’s trip and to reflect findings of a new Amnesty report into violations during protests in Angola Thousands of people attend the march "For a Hunger-Free Angola," in a protest called by the opposition parties that make up the United Patriotic Front (FPU) in Luanda Angolan prisons continued to experience overcrowding Angola’s association of street vendors accused police of sexual assault and illegal seizure of property of women street vendors across the country Police officers reportedly tortured six people in Luanda, Bié, and Lunda Sul provinces between April and June, to coerce confessions to crimes, according to a report by the local Mudei Movement In September, the police minister, Eugénio Laborinho, acknowledgedthat police officers on duty “regrettably make mistakes some of which culminate in the loss of human life." He added that about 78 officers were expelled from the national police for misconduct between January 2023 and mid-2024 In May, health authorities said they were investigating the reported death in Luanda of more than 30 children under 12 who had symptoms such as stomach pain and fever yellowish water” that came out of taps in the Viana neighborhood authorities had not publicly presented the outcome of their investigation Dozens of children’s foster homes in Malange province faced the risk of closure as the country struggles to recover from an economic crisis In its 2024 State Budget, the Angolan government reduced by 50 percent financial resources for the SOS Criança helpline, the only national helpline for children to call in cases of violence, abuse or neglect or to obtain information and referrals, according to UNICEF On August 29, President Lourenco signed two laws that fail to meet international human rights standards and severely restrict freedoms of the media which would seriously curtail media freedom The United Nations special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Gina Romero, had urged Angola’s government and National Assembly not to adopt legislation that could be used limit basic rights The Committee to Protect Journalists said the bill could “severely undermine press freedom further exposing journalists to harassment Angolan police arbitrarily detained peaceful activists and protesters throughout the year Some of the detainees were later released without charge while others were acquitted in court for lack of evidence In April, a court in Luanda acquitted33 pastors and workers of the Pentecostal Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (IURD) who were detained during a peaceful protest against the new leadership of the church State prosecutors charged the group with disturbing a religious gathering The judge ruled that he found no evidence for the crimes In June, authorities released without charges, 11 activists arrested by police during a peaceful protest against government policies which in their opinion were “impoverishing Angolans.” The group also called for the release of political prisoners Authorities detained and later released after several hours without charge dozens of activists and protesters who peacefully demonstrated against the new vandalism law in August The police also detained journalists who covered the protests and seized their work equipment Angolan prisons continued to experience overcrowding. The 43 prison units across the country have capacity for 22,554 inmates. The current prison population stands at 24,068 prisoners, half of them in preventive or pre-trial detention. The national director for human rights, Yannick Bernardo has blamed excessive cases of preventive detention as the main cause of the overcrowding Authorities struggled to implement alternatives to prison time introduced with the new penal code of 2020 including community service and house arrests which may amount to torture or other ill-treatment.  Human Rights Watch is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit registered in the US under EIN: 13-2875808 highly relevant issue briefs and reports that break new ground with a focus on advancing debates by integrating foundational research and analysis with concrete policy solutions the Atlantic Council’s experts have you covered—delivering their sharpest rapid insight and forward-looking analysis direct to your inbox New Atlanticist is where top experts and policymakers at the Atlantic Council and beyond offer exclusive insight on the most pressing global challenges—and the United States’ role in addressing them alongside its allies and partners A weekly column by Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe Inflection Points focuses on the global challenges facing the United States and how to best address them UkraineAlert is a comprehensive online publication that provides regular news and analysis on developments in Ukraine’s politics UkraineAlert sources analysis and commentary from a wide-array of thought-leaders and activists from Ukraine and the global community MENASource offers the latest news from across the Middle East and independent analysis from fellows and staff Econographics provides an in-depth look at trends in the global economy utilizing state-of-the-art data visualization tools It’s a last minute trip that’s a long time coming US President Joe Biden will travel to Angola for what is likely the final foreign trip of his presidency and it fulfills a promise Biden made during the US-Africa Leaders Summit in 2022 to travel to the continent Yet the trip comes in the twilight of his term which raises questions about the urgency and scope of US attention to the region as well as about how the incoming administration should build on Biden’s outreach Atlantic Council experts share their insights on what Biden’s trip signals about where US diplomacy in Africa is headed Benjamin Mossberg: Biden’s trip shows the success of Angola’s reforms Joseph Lemoine: The Lobito Corridor reveals how the US focus is shifting from aid to investment Alexandria J. Maloney: Trump should anticipate the need for US engagement in Africa William Tobin: The Lobito Corridor shows that the United States can deliver on the right kinds of investment Alexander Tripp: The US can outcompete China in Africa—it just needs to do so more frequently and attract greater levels of foreign direct investment The visit of a US president to Angola shows that the narrative today is different and that Angola is focused on the future I joined Brian Nelson, the US Treasury Department’s under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, on his first trip to Angola in March 2022. While there, I saw the impact of these reforms firsthand. At home, Angola made strides to implement reforms to combat corruption Angola worked with its neighbors and international partners to provide mutual assistance and improve coordination These credible efforts show the private sector that Angola is open for business. Without these reforms, projects that Biden is set to visit, such as those in the Lobito Corridor or in the telecommunications sector Risk-rating agencies and financial institutions should look to Angola to further integrate the country into the global financial system US executive branch agencies should continue to work with their Angolan counterparts to strengthen the country’s capacity to fight corruption and money laundering while encouraging more US firms to seriously consider investing in Africa’s seventh-largest country Angola’s leaders are writing a new narrative and the visit of a sitting US president shows that the United States is serious about the future —Benjamin Mossberg is the deputy director of the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center he led US Treasury Department efforts to combat corruption and financial crimes on the African continent Collaborating with African nations is vital for US economic and national security interests and should be balanced with promoting peace and a brighter economic future on the continent Demand for critical minerals such as copper driven by their essential role in powering electronics and advancing green energy technologies is increasingly becoming a focal point for US efforts to secure these resources.  the project is envisioned as the first step toward a new transcontinental railway linking the Atlantic and Indian oceans and other infrastructure as part of the Belt and Road Initiative As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, sustaining investment in the Lobito Corridor is imperative. This initiative strengthens US-Africa trade, promotes local economic development, and serves as a strategic tool to counter China’s influence. It also aligns with the Trump-era Blue Dot Network’s commitment to high-quality global infrastructure standards delivering mutually beneficial outcomes for all stakeholders involved —Joseph Lemoine is the senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Freedom and Prosperity Center he was a private sector specialist at the World Bank counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa will likely emphasize combating extremism through military and diplomatic channels If the Trump administration is serious about security and advancing long-term US economic interests it will consider major US strategic involvement and investments with African nations —Alexandria J. Maloney is a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center This was recognized in the White House’s US Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa which articulated the aim to “advance shared prosperity leverage the best of America’s private sector Biden will showcase the United States’ ability to partake in this model a public-private railway project linking the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia to Angola’s Atlantic port of Lobito and Ventricles— have leveraged more than four billion dollars in financing The United States has long strides to walk in improving its economic ties with the continent offers the hope that at least it can be done —William Tobin is an assistant director at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center where he focuses on international energy and climate policy As can be clearly seen from Biden’s laggard trip to Africa, the continent is not at the forefront of US foreign policy concerns. This trip was already overdue when it was postponed in October. Now, post-election, there is a risk that it will symbolize little more than keeping a promise made roughly twenty-four months ago As such, the Lobito Corridor is more than just a railway line across the continent connecting the globe with some of the most valuable minerals in a twenty-first-century economy. It is also leading to what will become a major global trading port and the Lobito Corridor is a much-needed win for US presence on the continent —Alexander Tripp is the assistant director for the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center Image: President Joe Biden gives remarks at a press conference in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington DC Sign up to receive expert analysis from our community on the most important global issues © 2025 Atlantic CouncilAll rights reserved If refreshing the page doesn't resolve the issue you could try clearing the sites browser cache Cláudio Silva reflects on moving from Angola to the United States as a child founding Angola’s largest food and travel platform and what the country’s current flourishing means not just for Angolans but for the world My father moved myself and my siblings to the Washington DC suburbs when I was five years old for political reasons and I immediately understood that this place is not like the other place There’s a huge difference in development in the way people live—I’ve never forgotten that feeling There was also profound ignorance about where I’m from My earliest memories in life are from Angola Then I moved to this other country that was extremely cold I was surprised that kids hadn’t yet learned any of that I knew what the map of the world looked like I knew that there were seven continents and there’s this place called Europe “I’m from Angola,” and they’d be like I have this mild obsession that people should know where I’m from I started a music blog about music in Portuguese: music from Cape Verde Something went off in my mind at that time: if people have no idea about music in Portuguese then maybe I should give them access myself I lived in Portugal with my mother for a year Over the years I became more and more obsessed with cooking My dad used to take me to restaurants from a really young age—to this day saying “you’re such a posh guy always wanting to go to restaurants.” Every visit had such a profound impact on me — during my two-month vacations the experience is always the same: the door opens and there’s that unmistakable feeling of home and I was tired of not having my family around me But even after moving back, I still felt the urge to explain where I’m from, to showcase my own city. To be a host To make people aware of what kinds of food you can eat in Luanda It was in the midst of an economic boom and had a lot of expats: French A lot of these expats were involved in the oil industry and the oil industry makes everything more expensive: the price of housing At the time, Luanda was known as the most expensive city in the world, and Westerners were fascinated by this fact. How could a city in Africa be the most expensive city in the world? Countless articles explored this phenomenon—I admit I wrote a couple myself But I’ve always wanted to make people understand that it was the most expensive for expats I realized there wasn’t a single online resource written in Portuguese for Angolans about where to dine Everything was written in English for expats I now call it LNL because it’s grown beyond just nightlife and just Luanda—it covers the entire country focusing primarily on food and travel throughout Angola A few years after founding LNL I started writing articles for Roads & Kingdoms. Eventually the League of Travelers launched co-founder of Roads & Kingdoms] and I had a conversation Do you think it’s ready?” I was like And now finally, it’s ready My grandparents on both my mother’s side and my father’s side were born in this colony that was very And their life was completely different from what my parents’ life was like He was one of the first Black people to own a car And the same thing can be said with slavery because Angola—obviously it wasn’t Angola at the time but the Kongo Kingdom and Ndongo Kingdom of my ancestors were two of the main purveyors of slaves to the western world We’re talking about millions of people that were forcibly taken from Angola to the Americas there are places you can go to that have the infrastructure to hold human beings There’s an old police station that still has the metal shackles that held people’s arms and necks in bondage and I think that’s such a powerful thing for people to understand you don’t have cash crops like sugar you don’t have the British Empire becoming so incredibly rich enough to start the industrial evolution So this painful history is also a vital cog in the machine that governs our lives and our worlds today Most of my life I have dealt with this profound ignorance of one of the places in the world that is most impactful for the development of the current world It’s because we’re a new country and because we were under colonialism and because we had a long civil war up until 2002 that was fueled by countries like Russia and the United States and you have abject poverty in the same street When you walk down the street in Luanda you’ll see the latest model of a Porsche Cayenne but then you’ll see somebody whose leg has been blown off in a mine begging at your car This is the world outside of the Western countries. This is also a result of the industrialization of Western countries. Capitalism and wealth don’t happen in a vacuum. There are people who have to be exploited—or had to be exploited in the past—and they exist, and they have a voice. And part of this Angola trip is giving people this voice and saying we’re doing this.” It’s important that people have an idea of where this is and on whose back the modern world was built We know that we have been pawns in world conflicts which happened in part because America was so against the spread of communism that they were willing to do anything in any country to crush those movements Luanda’s restaurants prided themselves on importing almost everything they served Plating fish flown in from Lisbon on the daily TAP flights was all the rage Tasting menus made with local ingredients are surging throughout the city many of them trained abroad in places like France and South Africa Some, like Helt Araújo, are going even a step further: he is running a foundation to find out what the hell we ate before the Portuguese got here. He’s going to be our culinary guide on the trip this June and will introduce us to some of the ingredients he has unearthed Angolans aren’t the only ones recognizing the country’s gastronomic potential Two Dutch entrepreneurs are leading a new initiative—the Angola Food Movement—that builds a dynamic network connecting public and private stakeholders and entrepreneurs to create new opportunities in Angola’s food system Second-generation Swiss immigrants to Angola are producing local dairy and charcuterie products in their quasi-urban farm in the southern city of Lubango; we’ll be eating locally-made brie cheese during our trip And on the arid southern coast of Moçamedes Angolans are producing the country’s very first commercial wine a blend of Portuguese grape varieties invigorated by Namibe’s particular terroir but it gets people speaking about these countries And I think that’s one of the most powerful things we can do We are going to eat amazing food and meet fascinating people and have a tremendously good time Shining a light on Angola at this turning point in our history is incredibly important for me personally All images by Clay Williams. For more information on our June journey, visit our League of Travelers trip page: Eternal Angola Join our newsletter to get exclusives on where our correspondents travel and notoriously high prices in Angola’s capital The team behind the Consupedia app are on a mission to create a more transparent and sustainable food industry it tells consumers how sustainable and ethical their food choices are This week on The Trip podcast: Writer Matt Goulding on his city these “guerilla gatherers” risk fines and jail time to keep food culture alive Epidemiological situation of cholera in Angola With the confirmation of the first case on 7 January 2025 Government of Angola declared an outbreak of Cholera the Minister of Health convened the first National Coordination Technical Meeting along with the Directors of provincial health ministerial departments and partners attended the meeting The Technical Commission activated the National Plan for Cholera Response Resources were mobilized for health workers and medical staff The first case was registered in the Cacuaco Municipality of Luanda Province with a population of around 1,225,220 inhabitants a cumulative total of 1,081 cases have been reported 3 in the Province of Huambo and 2 in Province of Huíla of which 527 (49.0%) male and 554 (51.0%) female of which 32 in the Province of Luanda (Cacuaco: 24 Kilamba Kiaxi); 8 in the Province of Bengo (Panguila: 4 Dande: 3 and Barra do Dande: 1) and 5 in the Province of Icolo and Bengo of whom 31 (69.0%) were male and 14 (31.0%) were female Walking around Luanda, the capital of Angola, it's easy to marvel at the large, modern buildings, but also to wonder why this oil-rich country has so many people begging for food in the streets. Besides being the second-largest oil producer in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), just behind Nigeria, Angola also has vast arable land and good climatic conditions to produce enough food to not only feed its population but also to sell to other countries But the reality we see on the ground is not what we expect Despite the country importing a significant amount of food and agricultural goods – having spent around $3.5 billion on food import in 2023 and the United States – about one-third of Angolans are currently experiencing hunger and often go one or more days to bed without eating due to a lack of food some of the reasons behind this dramatic reality become clear Many people in the country are starving because Angola’s economy has been heavily reliant on oil extraction (>90% of exports) thus limiting the sources of income and the creation of new job opportunities for the people Angola’s limited economic diversification has prevented other sectors from developing where the country only uses 10 percent of its massive agricultural potential yet nearly half of the population is employed in this sector Other reasons for food insecurity are that the country suffers from extreme inequality and most of the population is poor We find that around a third of Angolans live in extreme poverty on less than $2.15 per day (the international poverty line children are the most affected by this food shortage posing a serious threat to the country's future While the younger generation will be the workforce needed to help diversify Angola's economy four out of every ten children under the age of five (2 million children) suffer from chronic malnutrition today What is even more surprising is that the stunting rate was at 43.6% in 2022 And about half of the Angolan children are below the recommended height for their age – with one of the main consequences being the inability to reach their physical and cognitive potential Angola´s human capital index of 0.36 is one of the lowest in the African continent To fully grasp the size of the country’s challenge it means that an Angola child born in 2018 will only achieve 36% of his/her human potential by the age of 18 we ask ourselves (and we are sure you do too): what are the main obstacles preventing the agricultural sector from reaching its full potential and addressing the Angola's food insecurity We found that there are three main stumbling blocks: (i) access to land is predominantly informal because formalization of rural land rights is overly restrictive; (ii) basic infrastructure and access to electricity is visibly lacking; and (iii) lack of human capital The agricultural workforce in Angola is poorly qualified with most farmers having low levels of schooling and limited skills on more efficient and productive agricultural practices and technologies Having said all this, it is not all doom and gloom. We think Angola can still transform itself from an oil producing, food-insecure country into the next regional food hub in Africa and steps are already being taken in the right direction The Angolan government is committed to diversifying the economy away from oil we are glad to see that it has identified agriculture as one of the key sectors in its National Development Plan (NDP) for 2023-2027 The NDP outlines a comprehensive Program for the Promotion of Agricultural and Livestock Production which includes six objectives: increasing access to inputs and enhancing agricultural self-sufficiency the World Bank has been supporting the Government through a wide array of investments In the World Bank’s forthcoming Angola Country Economic Memorandum our teams identified the main constraints and potential drivers of growth providing a series of policy recommendations to help Angola unlock its agriculture potential we are optimistic that the development of the agriculture sector in Angola will position the country as a future agriculture powerhouse of Africa and will also ensure that every Angolan will have access to enough and healthy food to meet their dietary needs and to reach their full potential Thank you for choosing to be part of the Africa Can End Poverty community The latest blog posts and blog-related announcements will be delivered directly to your email inbox Senior Economist in the Economic Policy Global Department of the World Bank in the the Eastern and Southern Africa Region In a historic step towards fostering inclusion through sport in Africa, Angola has officially joined the Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion at a signing ceremony held in Luanda on 26 November 2024 and invited guests also participated in the momentous occasion This partnership is set to transform the educational and athletic landscape for 3,085 youth across 128 schools nationwide including those with intellectual disabilities more than 200 teachers will receive specialized training to ensure inclusive practices are effectively implemented The Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion, made possible by a generous grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation is a multilateral platform that works closely with governments private sector and global philanthropy to expand the reach and impact of inclusive education through sports around the world Minister Pinto de Andrade emphasized Angola's dedication to creating equitable opportunities: "Angola reaffirms its commitment to inclusive education and sports We believe that every child deserves access to quality education and recreational opportunities and this initiative aligns with our vision for a more equitable society." The inclusion of Angola in the Global Leadership Coalition represents a significant milestone for Africa and South Africa have already joined the Coalition underscoring the continent's collective efforts to foster integration through sports for individuals with intellectual disabilities Launched in June 2023 during the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin encouraging governments to invest in inclusive educational programs The Coalition, funded by a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), also includes key global and civic stakeholders including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Lions Clubs International Foundation Fondation Botnar and textile brand H&M By bringing together a wide range of stakeholders the Coalition aims to increase opportunities for over 2 million young people in more than 150,000 schools and extend Special Olympics programming to 180 countries The Coalition’s members span a diverse geographic footprint For more information on the Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion and its ongoing initiatives, visit the official Special Olympics website. Biden’s visit marks a pivotal moment in U.S.-Angola relations, underscoring the commitment of both nations to deepening economic, trade, and investment ties. Read more USCC Homepage View all topics Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. President Joe Biden is finally making his long-promised visit to Africa this week, attempting to showcase a U.S.-backed railway project in three countries that he has pushed as a new approach in countering some of China’s global influence. President Joe Biden is greeted by Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio as he arrives at Quatro de Fevereiro international airport in the capital Luanda, Angola on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, on his long-promised visit to Africa. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) President Joe Biden walks with Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio, right, after arriving at Quatro de Fevereiro international airport in the capital Luanda, Angola on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, on his long-promised visit to Africa. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) President Joe Biden walks from Air Force One as he arrives at Quatro de Fevereiro international airport in the capital Luanda, Angola on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, on his long-promised visit to Africa. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) President Joe Biden greets well wishers as he arrives at Quatro de Fevereiro international airport in the capital Luanda, Angola on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, on his long-promised visit to Africa. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) President Joe Biden speaks with Cape Verde’s Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva, right, and Jose Luis Livramento, Cabo Verde Ambassador to the U.S at Amilcar Cabral international airport on Sal island, Cape Verde Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, en route to Angola as he makes his long-promised visit to Africa. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) President Joe Biden walks from Air Force One at Amilcar Cabral international airport on Sal island, Cape Verde Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, en route to Angola as he makes his long-promised visit to Africa. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) President Joe Biden boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, en route to Angola as he makes his long-promised visit to Africa. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) President Joe Biden boards Air Force One at Amilcar Cabral international airport on Sal island, Cape Verde Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, en route to Angola as he makes his long-promised visit to Africa. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) President Joe Biden is greeted by Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio, right, as he arrives at Quatro de Fevereiro international airport in the capital Luanda, Angola on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, on his long-promised visit to Africa. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) President Joe Biden greets well wishers after arriving at Quatro de Fevereiro international airport in the capital Luanda, Angola on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, on his long-promised visit to Africa. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) Biden plans to meet with Angolan President João Lourenço in the capital, Luanda, where crowds lined the streets for his arrival, and visit the National Slavery Museum. He also will travel to the Atlantic port city of Lobito for a look at the rail project. He will announce new developments on health, agribusiness and security, White House officials said. The last U.S. president to visit sub-Saharan Africa was Barack Obama in 2015. Biden did attend a United Nations climate summit in Egypt in North Africa in 2022. “I just kind of push back on the premise that this is some Johnny-come-lately trip at the very end,” national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on board Air Force One on the way to Angola, noting that top administration officials had visited Africa, including Vice President Kamala Harris. “This is something he (Biden) has been focused on since he became president of the United States.” “President Biden is no longer the story,” said Mvemba Dizolele, director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank. “Even African leaders are focused on Donald Trump.” The U.S. has committed $3 billion to the Lobito Corridor and related projects, administration officials said, alongside financing from the European Union, the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations, a Western-led private consortium and African banks. “A lot is riding on this in terms of its success and its replicability,” said Tom Sheehy, a fellow at the United States Institute of Peace, a nonpartisan federal research institution. “As long as they keep labeling Lobito one of the main anti-China tools in Africa, there is a certain likelihood that it’s going to keep being funded,” said Christian-Géraud Neema, who analyzes China-Africa relations for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Kirby said the Biden administration hopes Trump and his team see the value in Lobito but “we are still in office. We still have 50 days. This is a key major development not just for the United States and our foreign policy goals in Africa, but for Africans.” The Lobito Corridor will be an upgrade and extension of a railway line from the copper and cobalt mines of northern Zambia and southern Congo to Angola’s port of Lobito, strengthening a route west for Africa’s critical minerals. It also ultimately aims to extend from Zambia and Congo to Africa’s east coast through Tanzania and be a coast-to-coast rail link. Michelle Gavin, a former adviser on Africa to Obama, said the U.S. had failed to take Africa seriously over multiple administrations, a bipartisan trend. The Lobito Corridor was “not just about trying to blunt China, but trying to imagine, OK, what does it look like if we actually were to show up in a more serious way?” she said. “It’s one project. It’s one good idea. And I’m very glad we’re doing it. It’s not enough.” Imray reported from Cape Town, South Africa. Fatima Hussein in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report. Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world The southern African nation in December and January issued about $2 billion in bonds as collateral for a $1 billion loan from JPMorgan.