WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – President Joe Biden is in Africa on his first and last trip to the continent as commander-in-chief. He is the first president in U.S. history to visit Angola.
The president met with Angolan President João Lourenço on Tuesday and pledged support to Africa.
“The United States is all in on Africa,” he said. “The future of the world is here in Africa.”
President Biden delivered remarks from Angola’s National Slavery Museum where he acknowledged the dark and painful history of slavery and looked to the future.
“It’s our duty to face our history, the good, the bad and the ugly,” Biden said.
He highlighted his administration’s efforts to unite the U.S. and Angola and touted more than $40 billion in investments to Africa.
“Here in Angola alone, the United States has invested $3 billion during my short presidency,” he said. “Today, I’m announcing over $1 billion in new humanitarian support for Africans displaced from homes by historic droughts and food insecurity.”
The president also discussed investments in infrastructure and efforts to build the first transcontinental railroad in Africa, known as the Lobito Corridor.
“We’re building railroad lines from Angola to the port of Lobito and Zambia and the DRC,” he said.
The Lobito Corridor would make it easier to transport raw materials quickly and efficiently.
On Wednesday, Biden is scheduled to visit the coastal city of Lobito to see the corridor’s Atlantic Ocean outlet. The U.S. is working to counter China, which has strong influence in Africa.
The president’s trip to Africa comes as he continues to face backlash for pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, after previously pledging he would not. He dodged questions from reporters about the reversal during a meeting with Lourenço on Tuesday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: Fox 8 News Channel