Five West African Presidents Expected at Trump White House Summit

President Donald Trump is set to host a high-profile luncheon at the White House with the leaders of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal to strengthen commercial and security ties between the United States and Coastal West and Central Africa. This summit emphasizes the Trump Administration's strategic shift from aid to trade and private investment as tools for promoting peace, security, and prosperity in Africa. The invited nations play crucial roles in curbing the spread of violent extremism from the Sahel region and are viewed as essential partners in U.S. efforts to stabilize the continent. Key topics expected to dominate discussions include energy and critical mineral partnerships, aligning with recent U.S. legislative focus on Africa. The visit also comes amid complex political and economic dynamics within these countries, such as Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embaló's controversial tenure and Liberia’s pending railway infrastructure deal tied to an American mining company with political connections to the Trump administration. Overall, the summit represents a pivotal moment in recalibrating U.S.-Africa relations toward investment-driven cooperation.