Face to China: US invests $553 million in Angola

The United States has agreed to a major loan deal to upgrade Angola’s Lobito Corridor railway. The $553 million investment forms part of a wider $753 million project aimed at cutting transport times for critical minerals. Officials have framed the move as a strategic effort to counter China’s influence in the region.

The modernisation plan will renovate 1,300 kilometres of rail tracks and introduce new locomotives. The route will link Lobito’s Atlantic port to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) will provide the bulk of the funding. An additional $200 million comes from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), bringing the total to $753 million. The project’s goal is to slash shipping times for minerals from the DRC and Zambia to the coast.

Currently, goods take up to 45 days to travel by road. Once completed, the railway will reduce this to just 40–50 hours. The initiative also aligns with broader U.S. efforts to secure supply chains and limit China’s control over critical resources.

National Security Council senior director for Africa, Dana Banks, highlighted the project’s importance. The DFC has described the investment as a geopolitical necessity to ensure reliable supply routes and prevent Chinese dominance in the sector.

The upgraded railway will connect Lobito’s port to key mining regions in the DRC and Zambia. Faster transport times are expected to boost trade efficiency and strengthen regional economic ties. The U.S. funding reflects a growing focus on securing access to vital minerals while competing with China’s infrastructure investments in Africa.