Biden’s Angola visit triggers major restrictions, including funeral bans

Authorities in Angola’s Benguela province have implemented stringent restrictions ahead of US President Joe Biden's visit, which began on December 2.

Measures include bans on street trading and funerals, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Residents of Lobito, a key port city Biden is scheduled to visit after leaving the capital Luanda, face additional restrictions such as road closures and parking bans in certain municipalities.

Lobito is a vital transportation hub, hosting a railway that connects copper mining regions in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the port. The potential improvement of this railway, financed by US investment, was a central topic in Biden's meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço.

Heightened security measures accompany Biden’s visit, with a substantial deployment of US military personnel in Luanda. US Air Force planes have been observed in the skies above the city, emphasizing the strategic importance of the visit. To enable citizens to follow Biden’s historic trip, the Angolan government declared December 3 and 4 as public holidays.

This visit is monumental as it marks the first time a sitting US president has visited Angola. It also underscores the transformation of US-Angolan relations. For years after Angola's independence in 1975, the US, alongside apartheid-era South Africa, refused to recognize the Angolan government. Diplomatic ties were not formally established until 1993. Biden’s trip is seen as a major step toward strengthening bilateral relations.

The visit was originally scheduled for October but was postponed due to Hurricane Milton's devastation in the United States, requiring Biden’s presence to manage the crisis. The delay only heightened the significance of this trip, which fulfils a promise Biden made at the 2022 US-Africa Leaders Summit to engage more closely with African nations.

American media suggest Biden’s visit signals a strategic push to counter the growing influence of China and Russia in Africa. Angola, rich in critical minerals such as copper and rare earth elements, is a key player in global resource markets. Strengthening ties with Angola is part of a broader strategy to secure US access to these vital resources.

Biden’s visit also sheds light on the shifting priorities of US foreign policy. His focus on Africa underscores the administration’s recognition of the continent’s importance in geopolitical and economic terms. Meanwhile, sources suggest that US President-elect Donald Trump is likely to continue fostering ties with Angola. His goals align with Biden’s strategy: enhancing US influence in Africa and securing critical mineral supplies, according to retired diplomat Tibor Nagy.

As Biden spends three days in Angola, the visit not only commemorates a new chapter in US-Angola relations but also highlights the strategic significance of this partnership within the broader global context.

By Tamilla Hasanova