Lobito Corridor: US-Africa Partnership Model Under Fire

During a March 5 confirmation hearing for the post of assistant secretary of state for African affairs, nominee Frank Garcia highlighted the Lobito Corridor—a 1,300-km strategic railway and transport link connecting Angola's Lobito port to the mineral-rich regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia—as evidence of Washington's new direction on the continent, focusing on trade and investment rather than humanitarian aid.

The project, initially backed by a memorandum of understanding under the Biden administration and later financed by President Trump in 2025, was described by Garcia as a pioneering model aligned with the "America First" approach, prioritizing job creation, regional integration, and expanding bilateral trade ties.

However, analysts argue that the Lobito Corridor primarily serves US goals of securing strategic mineral supply chains for electric vehicle production, clean energy technology, and defense, rather than delivering tangible benefits for local populations.

"There is a real risk that this corridor will worsen crises rather than provide solutions," said Mike Jennings, a professor of global development at the University of London's SOAS. "Its implementation is heavily imbued with neo-colonial thinking in practice, spirit, and objectives."

What is the Lobito Corridor?

The Benguela Railway, the corridor's precursor, was built in 1902 as a colonial trade route to transport raw minerals from inland Africa to European and American markets. After Angola's independence in 1975 and the end of a 27-year civil war, less than 3% of the railway remained operational.

China previously invested US$2 billion under an oil-for-rail program to restore the line. In 2023, the Lobito Atlantic Railway consortium, comprising Trafigura, Mota-Engil, and Vecturis SA, won a 30-year concession. The US committed billions of dollars to boost transport capacity and reduce shipping costs for strategic minerals.

The project is one of five main trade, transit, and development corridors in southern Africa. It aims to improve transport efficiency, cutting the time and cost of moving goods to seaports, especially copper, cobalt, lithium, and nickel for electric vehicles and clean energy tech.

Supporters say the corridor creates economic opportunities for farmers, artisans, and small-scale miners along its route. But Jennings cautioned: "Infrastructure development is important for Africa's growth, but the big question is whether the Lobito Corridor can actually achieve that in the way it's being implemented."

Washington's approach

In December 2024, President Biden made his first bilateral visit to Angola, partly to discuss support for the Lobito Corridor as China surpassed the US as Africa's largest trading partner in 2013. Under Biden, the project was framed as a symbol of climate transition under the EU's Global Gateway initiative.

The Trump administration redefined the corridor as a geopolitical tool to counter China, bolster US control over strategic materials, and diversify supply chains. The International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), established in 2019, committed a US$550 million loan and later signed a US$753 million financing package in December.

"We see the railway as a critical national and regional asset driving economic development and supporting the transport of strategic metals to global markets, while preventing monopoly by China and other competitors," DFC director Ben Black emphasized.

Concerns around the project

Jennings criticized the project for appearing to support trade from Africa outward rather than strengthening intra-regional links. "It seems more like a continuation of the model of exploiting Africa's natural resources than an Africa-focused project," he said.

Implementation has also been criticized for neglecting affected populations. According to satellite image analysis by UK advocacy group Global Witness, up to 6,500 people could be displaced by the Lobito Corridor's development in the DRC, where property rights along the railway line are contested.

A UN document from October 2024 on the corridor's regional impact warned of environmental challenges, land and community conflicts, and health, gender, and human rights risks. The document called on the three African governments and stakeholders to establish a process for "addressing human rights impacts and abuses, including cross-border business-related human rights harm."

"The project is not the answer to local people's needs. It focuses on strategic and economic interests outside the region—especially the US—not on communities and those most affected," Jennings concluded.