Trump meets with five West African leaders to discuss trade
U.S. President Donald Trump held a meeting at the White House with leaders from five West African nations, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal, to discuss new grounds for trade and economic collaboration.
The meeting, held in the State Dining Room, marked a shift in U.S. policy towards Africa, emphasising partnerships over aids amid a broader trade war affecting developing nations. The talks centred on leveraging the region’s vast natural resources, including minerals and oil, to encourage mutual economic growth.
“We’re shifting from aid to trade,” Trump said at the start of the White House meeting. “In many ways, in the long run, this will be far more effective and sustainable and beneficial than anything else that we can be doing together.”
He highlighted the “great economic potential in Africa, like few other places,” describing the visiting nations as “very vibrant places with very valuable land, great minerals, great oil deposits and wonderful people.”
Trump pointed to a recent U.S.-brokered peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda as evidence of his administration’s commitment to resolving African conflicts, stating, “There’s a lot of anger on your continent. We’ve been able to solve a lot of it.”
Gabon’s President Brice Oligui Nguema emphasised the need for investment to process raw materials locally, saying, “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.”
Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye proposed tourism investments, including a golf course, noting its proximity to New York. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation announced funding for Gabon’s Banio Potash Mine to reduce import dependency, signalling tangible steps toward economic engagement.
“DFC’s efforts not only benefit the countries and communities where they invest but also advance US economic interests by opening new markets, strengthening trade relationships, and promoting a more secure and prosperous global economy,” said Conor Colema, DFC Head of Investments.
The summit occurred against the backdrop of significant U.S. aid cuts, including the dissolution of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which has hit West African nations hard. Liberia, where U.S. aid previously accounted for 2.6% of gross national income, faces particular challenges.
Despite this, Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai expressed optimism, reaffirming his country’s commitment to stability and inclusive growth. Security and migration were also key discussion points, with Senegal and Mauritania addressing their roles as transit hubs for migrants and drug trafficking concerns.
Trump assured the leaders their countries would likely be exempt from new U.S. tariffs set to take effect on August 1, a relief amid his administration’s aggressive trade policies targeting other nations.
The five invited West African nations possess vast natural resources, including manganese, iron ore, gold, diamonds, lithium, and cobalt, critical for modern technologies. China has significantly increased its investments in Africa, particularly in resource extraction, over recent years.
Although the U.S. Ambassador for African Affairs Troy Fitrell has rejected claims of unfair trade practices by the United States, African Union officials hold to their concerns about deepening trade ties with the U.S., citing “abusive” proposed tariffs, and visa restrictions specifically affecting African travellers.
Written by Abeeb Lekan Sodiq
Abeeb Lekan Sodiq is a Managing Editor & Writer at theafricandream.net. He’s as well a Graphics Designer and also known as Arakunrin Lekan.
