December 4th 2024.
As those in attendance eagerly awaited the start of the Lobito Corridor Trans-Africa Summit, US President Joe Biden seemed to doze off yet again. The 82-year-old leader could be seen closing his eyes for extended periods of time, not once, but twice during the meeting with African leaders in Angola. This caught the attention of many, as one video recording showed Biden with his left hand covering his mouth, his eyes shut for a solid 20 seconds. In another clip, he leaned his head on his hand and rested in that position for at least 45 seconds before slowly opening his eyes. His head even seemed to nod slightly as he fought to stay awake.
This summit marked Biden's first visit to Africa as president, and it came with just over a month left in his term at the White House. His main purpose for attending the meeting was to discuss plans for extending a railway venture in Lobito, which would greatly benefit the region by allowing for the transport of minerals from Congo and Zambia to the West. The US has already given a staggering $550 million loan for the project, which involves refurbishing and expanding the existing rail system in Angola. This venture also serves as a way to compete with China's strong presence in Congo's mining industry.
During the summit, Biden met with his African counterparts, including Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema. The leaders discussed the importance of this project and how it would benefit not only their countries, but also the continent and the global economy. The White House released a statement saying that all three presidents were committed to advocating for reform and ensuring that countries are not held back from investing in their development due to high debt.
Biden took to social media to share his thoughts on the meeting, stating that the relationship between Angola and the United States holds a valuable lesson for the world. He referenced their shared history of slavery and being on opposite sides of the Cold War, but now standing together as partners for the benefit of their people. However, this is not the first time Biden has been caught nodding off on official duty. President-elect Donald Trump even gave him the nickname "Sleepy Joe" due to this tendency. In November 2021, Biden appeared to fall asleep before his speech at the United Nations COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow, dozing off for about 20 seconds as another speaker addressed the delegates.
Despite these moments of drowsiness, Biden remains committed to his duties as president and continues to work towards the betterment of the United States and its relationships with other nations. His visit to Africa and meeting with its leaders only further solidified this dedication.
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