"America's Return to Africa"
The Story of the Lobito Corridor
English Verson (미국의 아프리카로의 귀환: 로비토 회랑 이야기)
Since 2013, China has signed over 1,000 projects with numerous African countries under the One Belt, One Road initiative, greatly expanding its influence across the continent. One project that has recently drawn attention is the Lobito Corridor.
Located in the heart of Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo is home to Kolwezi, a city known for its rich resources, including copper, cobalt, and manganese—key materials for electric vehicle batteries. The project connecting Kolwezi to Lobito Port is a significant undertaking that aims to transport these resources for the battery industry over the next 30 years. The Lobito Corridor is a crucial transportation route that can reduce transit times by 20 to 30 days compared to exporting to the United States or Europe through other African ports.
It is intriguing and perhaps surprising that the United States, rather than China, is participating in this project. Angola, one of the key countries involved, has been closely collaborating with China under the One Belt, One Road initiative since 2013. As a result of this partnership, Angola owes China approximately 17 billion USD, equivalent to 40% of its annual GDP. Given this significant debt, it seemed likely that China would secure business rights to the Lobito Corridor as a condition for debt forgiveness or deferment. However, contrary to expectations, the business rights were transferred to the United States.
The Lobito Corridor is not about constructing a new railway from scratch; instead, it involves rebuilding existing infrastructure that was destroyed during Angola’s long civil war following independence. Angola has been working with China under the One Belt, One Road initiative to restore this railway. However, the quality of the railway facilities built by China has been poor. For instance, at a train station in Angola, an electronic display board showing train times and prices has not been updated for ten years because China left without providing the password. This lack of follow-up maintenance, combined with low-quality infrastructure and substantial debt, has become a significant burden for Angola.
Ultimately, the strategic transportation business was unexpectedly awarded to a consortium of the United States and European countries. It remains to be seen whether the U.S. and Europe will repair and upgrade the railway originally built by China under the One Belt, One Road initiative. This shift is dramatic, especially given Africa’s rich natural resources and its complex colonial history with Western powers. One might wonder if African nations see this as preferable to continued engagement with China, or if they are wary of welcoming back Western nations with a legacy of exploitation and colonialism.
Many African countries, still grappling with the aftermath of civil wars, are sensitive to external interference in their internal affairs. For these nations, cooperation with China might seem more appealing, as it often comes with fewer demands related to governance and human rights, unlike partnerships with the United States. Despite these considerations, Africa chose to align with the U.S. During the period when the U.S. and Europe were distracted by financial crises and regional conflicts, African countries turned to China’s extended hand. Now, however, they appear to have reassessed their partnerships, distancing themselves from China in favor of the United States.
