CHINA-ANGOLA COOPERATION AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS NETWORK OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY: THE CASE OF THE LOBITO, MOÇÂMEDES, AND LUANDA RAILWAY CORRIDORS.

o caso dos corredores ferroviários do Lobito, Moçâmedes e Luanda

Abstract

After independence from Portugal, Angola plunged into a civil war that lasted 27 years (1975-2002). With the advent of peace at the beginning of the 2000s, the country began a process of national reconstruction, whose main objectives included national reconciliation and the rebuilding of transport, energy, water, communication, and urban infrastructure, as well as economic diversification. In this context, this article aims to describe and reflect on how, within the scope of China-Angola cooperation, the recovery of Angola's railway corridors fits into the plan for rehabilitating and building a transport and logistics network for the Southern African Development Community (SADC). For this purpose, the preparation of this text was based on a bibliographic and documentary analysis, selecting scientific articles that address different perspectives on China-Africa cooperation and, more specifically, the Sino-Angolan relationship. Documents were analyzed, including reports and plans produced either by the Angolan state or by multilateral institutions. Considering the controversial nature of China’s recent presence in Angola, the text also discusses viewpoints that highlight the advantages and disadvantages of the Sino-Angolan relationship. In this sense, our main argument is that, despite the long-standing cooperation with Western countries, collaboration with China has been shaping Angola’s development over the past twenty years.