Biden to visit Angola, marking first Africa trip of his presidency

President Joe Biden is preparing to visit Angola in the coming weeks, making it his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa as president. This will also be the first visit by a US President to the continent since Barack Obama in 2015. The trip is expected to take place after the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September but before the US presidential election on November 5, according to sources familiar with the plans.

The White House has not yet commented on the exact timing of the visit. Biden had initially planned to visit Angola late last year, but the trip was postponed due to the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.

Biden’s visit highlights his goal to build stronger partnerships with African nations, especially as China increases its investments in the area. Angola, rich in oil and natural resources, has become a focus for US relations in Africa.

Last November, Biden hosted Angolan President João Lourenço at the White House, where they discussed a possible visit. The US is also supporting a project that connects the Democratic Republic of Congo to Angola’s Lobito port by rail, aimed at improving transportation in the region.

Biden has faced some criticism for not visiting Africa earlier in his presidency, despite hosting a US-Africa Summit in 2022. Other top officials, like Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have made trips to Africa in recent years.

Biden’s Angola visit will come just weeks before the US presidential election, where polls show a close race between Vice President Harris and former President Donald Trump.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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