Five West African heads of state are heading to Washington this week for a surprise diplomatic engagement with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The leaders of Liberia, Senegal, Gabon, Mauritania, and Guinea-Bissau will participate in a three-day summit from July 9 to 11, the White House announced in late June.
According to U.S. officials, the meeting will focus on exploring “commercial opportunities,” marking Trump’s first significant outreach to Africa since returning to office. It also follows a tense May meeting between Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The countries invited are rich in natural resources such as oil, gas, gold, and rare earth minerals, but all grapple with ongoing issues like political instability, corruption, and authoritarian governance.
While the official agenda remains vague, the summit is expected to touch on trade, investment, and security cooperation. The outcomes of the discussions, however, are yet to be seen.
