Relationship dossier
Angola
Zambia
Relationship assessment
Angola and Zambia cooperate on plans to link Zambia to the Atlantic through the Lobito Corridor.
Angola toward Zambia
+25Angola joined Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a 2023 agreement to develop the Lobito Corridor, a transport route intended to connect Zambia to Angola’s Atlantic port.
Zambia toward Angola
+25Zambia joined Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a 2023 agreement to develop the Lobito Corridor, supporting transport links through Angola to the Atlantic.
Overall relationship
+25The main identifiable feature of the relationship is cooperation on the Lobito Corridor, a proposed regional transport link with Angola as the Atlantic outlet and Zambia as a prospective connected country. The scale and implementation of the project, and the broader bilateral agenda, remain uncertain.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Angola and Zambia have pursued practical cooperation through the Lobito Corridor initiative, which aims to connect Zambia to Angola’s Atlantic port by rail and road via the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The project reflects a shared government commitment to transport links and regional trade, though its implementation and the wider scope of bilateral cooperation are unclear.
Key developments
Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo agreed to cooperate on developing the Lobito Corridor.
Major uncertainties
- The timetable and extent of Zambia’s connection to the Lobito Corridor remain unclear.
- The scope of bilateral cooperation beyond transport and trade is uncertain.