U.S. President Donald Trump hosted the Presidents of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal at the White House on Wednesday to discuss economic cooperation and explore business partnerships aimed at unlocking the potential of Africa's natural resources.
Held at the State Dining Room, the meeting highlighted opportunities for investment in key sectors such as mining, oil, tourism, and infrastructure. Trump praised the visiting nations as "vibrant places" with "valuable land, great mineral wealth, oil deposits, and wonderful people."
He noted that the U.S. had recently helped broker a peace deal between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, suggesting the U.S. was playing a growing role in resolving regional conflicts.
Gabonese President Brice Oligui Nguema expressed his country's interest in attracting investors willing to help process local raw materials. "We are rich in resources, but we need development partners for mutually beneficial ventures," Nguema said. Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye also pitched tourism opportunities, inviting Trump to visit a golf course under development in Senegal, which he noted is just six hours from New York.
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The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) also announced support for the Banio Potash Mine project in Gabon. According to Conor Coleman, DFC's head of investments, the project aligns with U.S. goals of expanding trade ties, opening new markets, and contributing to global stability.
Though these five countries make up a small share of U.S.-Africa trade, they hold significant untapped potential. The Trump administration sees this engagement as a strategic counter to China's expanding influence on the continent.
A broader summit with African leaders is expected to be announced soon, possibly during the UN General Assembly in September.
