Luanda: Joe Biden reaffirmed the United States' commitment to sustained engagement with Africa, emphasizing a partnership shaped by African priorities, during a meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço in Luanda on Tuesday. This marks Biden’s only visit to sub-Saharan Africa as U.S. president, fulfilling his promise to visit the continent before his term ends in January.

"We are fully invested in Africa," Biden declared, echoing sentiments from the U.S.-Africa summit held in Washington in December 2022. Speaking at Angola’s presidential palace, he underscored the U.S. willingness to collaborate and listen to African perspectives, particularly regarding international debt relief and financing solutions.

President Lourenço expressed Angola’s interest in strengthening economic ties with the U.S. by attracting foreign investment and enhancing defense cooperation, including joint military initiatives in the Gulf of Guinea and the South Atlantic. He highlighted the role of U.S. companies in Angola's oil and gas sector and their involvement in upcoming infrastructure projects such as grain silos and logistics hubs.

Lourenço also addressed the historical complexities of U.S.-Angola relations, referencing Cold War-era alignments that once placed the two nations at odds. "We are turning a page in our relationship, leaving behind those divided times," he stated.

Biden’s visit also spotlighted the Lobito Corridor, a U.S.-backed railway project designed to facilitate the export of critical minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia to global markets via Angola. This initiative underscores the U.S. focus on economic partnerships across Africa, despite challenges in maintaining influence on a continent increasingly aligned with China and Russia.

Later, Biden was scheduled to visit Angola’s National Museum of Slavery, a site steeped in the shared history of the transatlantic slave trade. The museum, housed in a former chapel where enslaved individuals were baptized before being forcibly shipped to the Americas, commemorates Angola's central role in this dark chapter of history. Among its visitors was Wanda Tucker, a descendant of William Tucker—the first enslaved child born in colonial America, whose parents were brought from Angola to Virginia in 1619.

The museum contains harrowing artifacts, including shackles and iron weights used to restrain enslaved people. The U.S. announced a $229,000 grant to aid in the site’s restoration, underscoring its significance in preserving the memory of this shared history.

While Biden’s visit acknowledged the legacies of the slave trade, he is not expected to address reparations or broader systemic issues tied to racial inequality in the United States. These challenges remain pressing, with racial wealth disparities and debates over equity continuing to shape the U.S. social and political landscape.

As Biden’s presidency nears its conclusion, his trip reflects an effort to solidify U.S.-Africa ties. However, his successor, President-elect Donald Trump, will inherit the task of navigating a rapidly evolving African continent and reinforcing U.S. partnerships amid shifting global alliances.