When veteran naval officer Frank Garcia was appointed by the United States Senate as assistant secretary of state for African affairs this week, he praised the administration of Donald Trump for affirming Washington’s engagement in “trade and investment for mutual benefit” in the African continent.In particular, Garcia highlighted the Lobito Corridor – a strategic 1,300km (810-mile) rail and transport route linking the Atlantic port of Lobito in Angola to the mineral-rich regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia – as an example of this new direction during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on March 5.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listWhile it was the former Biden administration which signed a memorandum of understanding to provide investment into this project, Trump mobilised funds in 2025. Garcia described the project as a model for a new way forward in Africa, anchored in what he said were core US national interests and aligned with the “America First” approach.The veteran naval officer, whose new role is one of Washington’s most strategically important diplomatic positions in Africa, stressed that job creation, regional integration and expanded commercial ties would be prioritised, rather than humanitarian assistance, which must be assessed based on its contribution to national security and economic interests.For some, the Lobito Corridor is an example of how US investments can boost Africa’s regional trade, create jobs, and improve infrastructure while offering …
