A US shift toward trade and investment in Africa is being emphasized through the appointment of Frank Garcia as assistant secretary of state for African affairs. Garcia praised Washington’s engagement in trade and investment for mutual benefit and cited the Lobito Corridor as a key example. The 1,300 km rail and transport route links the Atlantic port of Lobito in Angola with mineral-rich areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia. The project was supported by a memorandum of understanding under the former Biden administration, and Trump mobilized funds in 2025. Garcia framed the corridor as aligned with America First priorities, focusing on job creation, regional integration, and commercial ties over humanitarian assistance. Critics argue the corridor primarily supports US efforts to secure alternative supply chains for critical minerals used in electric vehicles, clean energy technologies, and defense, potentially worsening instability and conflict.
"Garcia highlighted the Lobito Corridor a strategic 1,300km (810-mile) rail and transport route linking the Atlantic port of Lobito in Angola to the mineral-rich regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia as an example of this new direction during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on March 5."
"Garcia described the project as a model for a new way forward in Africa, anchored in what he said were core US national interests and aligned with the America First approach. The veteran naval officer stressed that job creation, regional integration and expanded commercial ties would be prioritised, rather than humanitarian assistance, which must be assessed based on its contribution to national security and economic interests."
"For some, the Lobito Corridor is an example of how US investments can boost Africa's regional trade, create jobs, and improve infrastructure while offering investment opportunities. But critics say it mainly serves US efforts to secure alternative supply chains for critical minerals needed for the manufacture of electric vehicles, clean energy technologies and defence, furthering regional instability and conflicts."
#us-africa-relations #trade-and-investment #lobito-corridor #critical-minerals #regional-integration
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