Biden says U.S. is “all in on Africa” on his first visit to the continent, pledges $1B in aid

During the first visit by a U.S. president to Africa in nearly a decade, President Joe Biden told Angola’s President “the U.S. is all in on Africa”, according to the Associated Press.

It’s not the first time Biden has made that declaration. But under his administration, U.S. influence in the region has been waning, Reuters reports.

In August, the U.S. transferred control of its final military base in Niger. This base had been a strategic location in counterterrorism efforts across the Sahel region, where extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State are active. Since a government shift in Niger, the country has turned to Russia for defense support, further signaling a realignment of alliances.

Despite these challenges, Angola reportedly remains interested in strengthening ties with the U.S., particularly in areas of security, military cooperation, and economic investment.

The U.S. recently pledged $3 billion to fund a railway project connecting Zambia and Congo to Angola’s port. This infrastructure is intended to streamline the export of critical raw materials used in electric vehicle production—a sector where both the U.S. and China are vying for dominance.

Additionally, Biden announced $1 billion in humanitarian aid aimed at assisting Africans impacted by drought and food shortages.