Biden to Make First Visit to Africa with Upcoming Trip to Angola, Sources Say

By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden is preparing for a visit to Angola in the coming weeks, marking a significant moment as he would be the first U.S. president to travel to sub-Saharan Africa since Barack Obama in 2015, according to three sources familiar with the plans.

Although the details of the trip are still being finalized, it is expected to take place after the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September and ahead of the presidential election on November 5, as noted by one of the sources. The White House has not commented on the visit’s details.

Biden had initially aimed to visit Angola late last year, but the trip was postponed due to the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October. The president has expressed a commitment to strengthening U.S. partnerships with democracies in Africa, especially as China continues to invest significantly in the region.

Last November, Biden hosted Angolan President Joao Lourenco at the White House, and they discussed the possibility of a visit during their meeting. In May, Biden reaffirmed his intention to visit Africa officially if he wins the presidential election next year.

If the trip proceeds, Biden would become the first U.S. president to visit Angola, following U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s historic visit to the country in September 2023.

In an effort to counter China’s extensive investments in Africa, the U.S. is backing a project that connects the resource-rich Democratic Republic of Congo to Angola’s Lobito port via rail, alleviating road congestion along the key cobalt transport route.

Since taking office in 2021, Biden has faced some criticism for delaying his visit to Africa, despite hosting a U.S.-African leaders summit in Washington in December 2022. Other high-profile officials, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Vice President Kamala Harris, have visited the continent in 2023, along with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Biden’s upcoming trip is particularly significant as it occurs just weeks before a closely contested U.S. presidential election, with recent polls showing Democratic candidate Harris nearly tied with her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump. Trump’s controversial remarks about African nations continue to impact diplomatic relations.