President Biden arrived on Monday in Cape Verde, an island nation off the coast of Africa, marking the first stop of his only trip to sub-Saharan Africa during his presidency. This journey comes in the wake of his decision to pardon his son for tax and gun convictions.
Air Force One landed for refueling at AmÃlcar Cabral International Airport on the island of Sal on a sunny morning before continuing to Angola, where the president aims to strengthen American ties.
While waiting for the plane to be prepared for the next leg of the flight, President Biden met with Ulisses Correia e Silva, the prime minister of Cabo Verde, in an airport lounge.
Mr. Biden is scheduled to arrive in Luanda, the capital of Angola, by evening. There, he will visit a slavery museum and highlight a new $1 billion rail corridor as a key element of his administration’s efforts to boost the region’s economy.
The president had long promised a visit to sub-Saharan Africa, although the trip was postponed until the final weeks of his presidency. He is the first American president to travel to the region since 2015.
His departure on what is the last officially announced overseas trip of his administration followed the issuance of a “full and unconditional” pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted this year of lying on a firearms application and pleaded guilty to failing to pay taxes. The president's decision to pardon his son, despite previous commitments not to do so, has drawn criticism from Republicans and some Democrats for perceived misuse of presidential power.
During his stop in Cape Verde, President Biden expressed gratitude to the island nation for its support of Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. Although he did not address reporters traveling with him, his staff released a statement commending Cabo Verde for its democratic governance and partnership with the United States.
“Cabo Verde is a model of stable democratic governance and, according to Freedom House rankings, is the freest country in all of Africa,” the White House statement noted. “Cabo Verde has been a consistent partner of the United States on global health, security, and other issues, and has also regularly condemned Russia’s war against Ukraine.”
No sitting American president has ever visited Angola, which became independent from Portugal in 1975 and experienced a lengthy civil war that made it a battleground in the Cold War. Since the end of the war two decades ago, Angola has developed a more prosperous economy, largely due to its oil and diamond resources, positioning itself as a focal point in the economic competition between the United States and China.
To demonstrate American commitment, President Biden is expected to announce investments in global health, agriculture, and security cooperation during the trip. He will also celebrate a U.S. government initiative that has facilitated business deals worth $6.9 billion between American and Angolan firms. However, the sustainability of these commitments may depend on the future administration's stance, particularly with President-elect Donald Trump, who has previously made disparaging remarks about African nations.