In brief
President Biden made a significant stop in Cape Verde on December 2, 2024, marking the first visit of his presidency to sub-Saharan Africa. The trip comes in the wake of his decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, for tax and gun-related offenses. Air Force One refueled at Amílcar Cabral International Airport on the island of Sal, where Biden took the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva ahead of his arrival in Angola.
Biden's main agenda includes fortifying American economic ties with Africa, as he heads to Luanda, the capital of Angola. There, he plans to visit a slavery museum and announce the development of a new $1 billion rail corridor, a key project aimed at boosting the local economy. Notably, Biden becomes the first sitting American president to visit the region since 2015, as he fulfills a long-standing promise that faced delays until the latter part of his presidency. This trip represents a crucial effort to enhance U.S. influence in Africa during a time of increasing competition, particularly with China, for pivotal partnerships in the global arena.
