Washington: US President Donald Trump welcomed the leaders of five African nations Wednesday to discuss strengthening economic partnerships and unlocking investment opportunities across the continent. The leaders of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal attended a working lunch focusing on trade and development cooperation.
According to Anadolu Agency, Trump emphasized Africa's economic potential, highlighting opportunities that could prove more effective and beneficial than other collaborative efforts. The African leaders showcased their nations' abundant natural resources during the meeting. Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani noted his country's position as a leading iron ore producer, along with reserves of manganese, uranium, and potential lithium deposits.
Liberian President Joseph Boakai called for a survey of his country's mineral resources and encouraged American involvement in investment opportunities. Gabon's President Brice Oligui Nguema stressed the need for local processing of raw materials to create jobs and prevent youth migration, inviting US companies to partner in processing manganese.
Nguema also urged the US to address piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, emphasizing the need for a reliable partner committed to real action. Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye invited the US Geological Survey to assess his country's mineral potential and encouraged American investment in a digital city project in Dakar.
Trump announced progress on peace negotiations between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, crediting the US State Department's senior advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, for mediating the breakthrough. He expressed optimism that the leaders of both countries would soon sign a final agreement.
In discussions about tariffs, Trump noted that some African countries impose high tariffs on the US but mentioned that they had informed him of plans to reduce these tariffs. However, when questioned about tariffs on the African countries present at the meeting, Trump said he hadn't considered it yet.
The meeting highlighted the mutual interest in strengthening economic ties and addressing regional security issues, with both sides expressing a commitment to future collaboration.