Biden to Visit Angola: His First Visit to Africa as President

September 26, 2024

(3 Minutes Read)

Biden will travel to Angola Oct. 13-15, where he will discuss firming up economic ties and boosting security, among other issues, with President Joao Lourenco. Biden is also to discuss a vision for a rail project that would start in Angola and link the Atlantic and Indian oceans

U.S. President Joe Biden will visit Africa next month, the White House announced Tuesday (Sep. 24). This is his first trip to the continent while in office.

In a statement, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Angola’s relationship underscores the United States’ continued commitment to African partners, and demonstrates how collaborating to solve shared challenges delivers for the people of the United States and across the African continent.

Biden had set his sights on visiting the country last year, but his plans were put on hold after the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted in October. He has vowed closer U.S. ties with democracies on the African continent, as China increases its influence in the region.

Biden had promised during a summit of African leaders he hosted in Washington in late 2022 to visit Africa the following year. His visit was to be the capstone of an administration effort to shore up ties with the continent, partly to counter growing influence there from China, which the US perceives as a rival. However, 2023 passed without a visit from Biden. Several top US officials including Vice President Kamala Harris visited African nations, though, on behalf of the now outgoing president.

Earlier Tuesday, the president declared that the U.S. is giving at least US$500 million, along with 1 million Mpox vaccines, to help African countries as they seek to quell the Mpox outbreak.