US President Donald Trump on Wednesday welcomed five African heads of state to the White House for discussions centred on expanding economic ties and tapping into the continent’s vast natural resources.
The leaders in attendance included the presidents of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal, who sought stronger partnerships with American businesses to drive development back home.
During a luncheon held in their honour at the State Dining Room, Trump described their nations as regions blessed with immense mineral wealth, fertile lands, and resilient populations eager for progress.
He also reflected on recent diplomatic efforts facilitated by his administration, citing the peace pact brokered between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda as an example of how Washington was helping ease tensions on the continent.
“There’s been a lot of anger across Africa over the years, but we’ve managed to resolve quite a bit of it,” Trump remarked, according to reports by Al Jazeera.
Trump also hinted that the five countries were unlikely to face US tariffs.
At the meeting, Gabon’s President Brice Oligui Nguema told Trump his country was open to investment and wanted to see its raw mineral resources processed locally, which would require more investments.
“We are not poor countries. We are rich countries when it comes to raw materials. But we need partners to support us and help us develop those resources with win-win partnerships,” Nguema said.
Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye used the occasion to spotlight his country’s tourism prospects, pitching an ambitious plan for a new golf course that he said would be just a six-hour flight from New York. With a hint of humour, he invited President Trump to visit Senegal to showcase his golfing prowess.
While no formal dates have been set, the White House is reportedly considering holding a broader summit with African leaders in September to coincide with the United Nations General Assembly.
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This week’s gathering is part of Washington’s renewed push to engage with African nations, as successive US administrations seek to dispel the narrative of neglect and counter China’s growing economic influence on the continent.
In a concrete outcome from the meeting, the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) announced plans to provide development funding for the Banio Potash Mine in Mayumba, Gabon – a move expected to reduce Gabon’s reliance on imported fertilisers.
Conor Coleman, head of investments at DFC, noted that these investments serve a dual purpose: bolstering the economies of partner countries while also creating new markets and strengthening trade ties that benefit US economic interests.
Although the five visiting nations make up a small share of America’s trade with Africa, they remain rich in untapped resources and are looking to deepen their engagement with US investors.