On December 4, 2024, a multilateral meeting was held in Lobito, Benguela province of Angola among Joe Biden of the United States of America President Joe Biden, Joao Lourenco of Angola, Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC, Hakainde Hichlema of Zambia and the Vice President of Tanzania Philip Isdor Mpango. The meeting focused on the economic partnership among the USA and the countries in the region, to revitalize the strategic project “Lobito Trans-African Corridor” aimed at connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean via the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Angola, Zambia, and Tanzania in order to better exploit the strategic mineral resources in DRC and revitalize supply chains.
The Lobito Trans-African Corridor Project is aimed at facilitating the transport of strategic mining products, particularly copper and cobalt, titanium, produced in the region. In the past decades those mineral have been at the center of the competition among super powers and led to invasions and wars, with armed groups supported or serving as covers of foreign forces looting the minerals.
The Lobito Trans-African Corridor Project is getting funding from the European Union and the United States of America. Hence, the first trip to Africa by the on-going USA president Joe Biden, to ensure that the project is solidified before he leaves the office on January 20, 2025.
According to several political analysts, Lobito Trans-African Corridor Project iis also supported by the US president-elect Donald J. Trump, especially given his promises to challenge China's influence.
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The port of Lobito will be the a strategic economic gain for the project, with a reduction of the transportation, distance, time, and costs of the strategic minerals and other products exported from or imported to the DR Congo.
The US government has invested billions of dollars in Angola, with the focus on the Lobito Corridor to revitalize supply chains by refurbishing 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) of train lines in Angola, Zambia, DR Congo and Tanzania.
Beside the Lobito Trans-African Corridor Project meeting among the US President and the four african leaders, Presidents Joe Biden of the United States of America and Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) held a bilateral meeting on Wednesday, December 4, in Lobito, Angola.
According to a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa, the meeting between US President Joe Biden and DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi circled back on the “Lobito Trans-African Corridor” project but focused on the economic partnership and bilateral relations between the United States and the DRC for the benefits of the American and Congolese people. One key point was on how ensure that the conditions are in place to attract private sector investment to the DRC, “including good governance, transparency, and a sovereign DRC capable of harnessing its immense wealth for the benefit of its entire population.”
The meeting also focused on the security crisis in eastern DRC following the invasion, war crimes and looting of minerals by Rwandan Defenses Forces under the cover of M23 armed group, as documented and confirmed the United Nations, European Union, United States and other instituions, Experts and NGO. According to the statement by US Embassy in Kinshasa, US President Joe Biden expressed his support to the Luanda Process to ensure a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Now the focus has shifted on the implementation of Luanda Process and ending the invasion of and looting strategic minerals in Eastern DRC by Rwandan Troops under the cover of M23 rebels, a necessary step to move to the execution of Lobito Trans-African Corridor Project. Hence, according to sources in Kigali, Rwanda, Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame and his closest military RDF leaders, already under pressure , have been holding urgent meetings to evaluate the next steps.
@AfroAmerica Network 2024
