On the Tracks of Power : Narratives from the Unfinished Journey of Angola’s Lobito Corridor

Sammanfattning

This study critically examines the Lobito Corridor Project (LCP), as a large-scale transport infrastructure initiative connecting Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Zambia. While official narratives frame the corridor as a symbol of regional integration and modernisation, this research questions such claims by centring the lived experiences of Angolan stakeholders. Based in human geography and shaped by feminist political ecology (FPE), neocolonial theory, and infrastructural studies, the study aims to understand how the LCP functions not only as an economic and spatial project but also as a political and symbolic instrument shaping local futures. Two main research questions focused on how Angolan actors perceive the LCP and how their perceptions align or conflict with the institutional narratives are answered. Using qualitative methods, including virtual semi-structured interviews and document analysis, the research identifies a disconnection between top-down development discourses and stakeholder realities. Empirical findings explain that while the LCP is promoted as transformative, voices of rural communities, women, and marginalised groups that have been facing displacements remain excluded. The study concludes by advocating for more inclusive, transparent governance and investment practices and calls for further research incorporating local perspectives across all three countries involved.