Ports of Power: The Strategic Contest between the U.S. and China over Lobito and Dar es Salaam

The evolving geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China is increasingly manifesting in Africa, particularly through strategic control of port infrastructure. This research explores the competition over the Lobito Port in Angola and the Dar es Salaam Port in Tanzania, two vital maritime gateways with regional and global economic significance. By analyzing infrastructure investments, trade volume data, and geopolitical strategies, the study highlights how China’s expansive, infrastructure-driven Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) contrasts with the U.S.’s more limited, governance-oriented approach. The paper utilizes a mixed-methods framework to compare trade throughput, foreign direct investment flows, and strategic implications, ultimately revealing that port infrastructure has become a critical theater for projecting economic and political power in Sub-Saharan Africa.