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United States President Donald Trump On Wednesday, welcomed the Presidents of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal to the White House in Washington, D.C. The discussion centered around business prospects as the African leaders sought partnerships to harness their resources.
Trump remarked during the lunch in the State Dining Room that the leaders come from “very vibrant places with very valuable land, significant minerals, abundant oil reserves, and wonderful people.”
He mentioned, “There’s a lot of anger on your continent. We’ve been able to solve a lot of it,” referencing a recent peace agreement signed by leaders from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda at the White House.
Trump indicated that the five nations are unlikely to face US tariffs. Gabon's President Brice Oligui Nguema told Trump that his country was eager for investment and aimed to process its raw mineral resources locally, necessitating further investment.
Nguema stated, “We are not poor countries. We have rich raw materials. But we need partners to support us and help develop those resources with win-win partnerships.”
Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye proposed that his country also presented investment opportunities in tourism, including a golf course.
Faye mentioned that the course would only be a six-hour flight from New York and encouraged Trump to visit to demonstrate his golfing abilities.
The US President is anticipated to soon announce dates for a larger summit with African leaders, likely in September during the United Nations General Assembly.
This week’s mini-summit continues the efforts by successive US administrations to address the perception of neglect towards Africa, where China is making significant economic inroads.
The US International Development Finance Corporation mentioned that the meeting would support project development funding for the Banio Potash Mine in Mayumba, Gabon, which will aid Gabon in reducing its reliance on imports.
“DFC’s initiatives not only benefit the countries and communities where they invest but also further US economic interests by opening new markets, enhancing trade relations, and promoting a more secure and prosperous global economy,” stated Conor Coleman, head of investments at DFC.
The leaders of the five nations meeting with Trump represent a small share of US-Africa trade, yet they hold untapped natural resources.
Senegal and Mauritania are crucial transit and destination countries for migration and, along with Guinea-Bissau, face challenges with drug trafficking, both of which are concerns for the Trump administration.
