Why Trump invites five African leaders to the White House

U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with leaders of five African countries, which the White House sees as an “incredible” business opportunity.

Trump’s choices for guests include leaders in Gabon, Guinea – Peso, Liberia, Mauritania and Senegal – none of them represent the major economies of the continent.

The three-day summit is expected to focus on Trump’s “trade, helpless” policies, and all of which face 10% tariffs on exported goods, which they may want to reach a deal to slow that rate.

Those who snap up may include critical minerals, maritime security, migration and custodial deportees may also be on the table.

In addition to Gabon, they follow routes used by immigrants and those of drug traffickers from Latin America.

Some countries may also be vulnerable to the southern spread of Islamic insurgency that further affect their neighbors inland – so discussions on cooperation on addressing this threat are likely to be possible.

Earlier this year, Michael Langley, who heads the US Africa Command (Africa), warned that one of the jihadists’ new targets is entering the West African coast – which also raises an “opportunity to threaten the US coast.”

Senegal’s former Washington ambassador Babacar Diagne said the invitation from African leaders reflects a “paradigical shift” in the United States’ recent policy toward the continent.

After taking office for the second term in January, Trump provided assistance to the continent to the United States, saying it was wasteful and incompatible with his “America First” policy.

With Trump and the Republican Party at the helm, there are also questions about whether the United States will renew its Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) later this year, which guarantees tax exemption for certain African goods.

“It’s not like the Democrats as before. They have two points: through AGOA and other initiatives, poverty reduction and development issues. All of this is over.”

According to the former diplomat, the Trump administration’s stance will reflect how it deals with Ukrainian war-era leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

“Pure trade. It’s giving and winning, winning and winning. We saw it with Ukraine. You signed an agreement on the minerals and you will keep us standing by your side or you will forget everything,” Mr Diagne said.

The peace agreement signed in Washington last month between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic is an example – Trade diplomacy could give the United States profitable minerals.

Indeed, Nicaise Mouloumbi, head of the leading NGO in oil-rich Gabon, said the Trump administration’s focus on Africa is attributed to competition from competitive forces, including China and Russia, to increase its precious resources.

“All these [invited] The country has important minerals: gold, oil, manganese, natural gas, wood and zircon – Senegal, Mauritania and Gabon,” he told the BBC.

Gabon has about a quarter of the world’s known manganese reserves – it provides 22% of the minerals in China, which are used to produce batteries and stainless steel.

Mr Mouloumbi added that the United States is probably most keen to strengthen its ties with Gabon, not only because of its “strategic” minerals such as manganese and uranium as well as oil, but also because it is located in the Gulf of Guinea, with the coastline along about 800 kilometers (500 miles) (500 miles).

Mr. Molombi said it could have a U.S. military base that the U.S. plans to build in the region.

Mr. Diag made a similar view on piracy, saying that “maritime terrorism in the Gulf of Guinea has become an extremely important issue for the United States”.

Many tankers carrying oil and gas have travelled through the Gulf of Guinea and have been known as piracy hotspots for several years.

For Mauritania and Senegal, immigration will be at the heart of the discussion, said Ousmane Sene, head of the West African Research Centre (WARC).

“Don’t forget that between 2023 and 2025, young Mauritanians travelling to the United States with hundreds of Senegalese, no less than 20,000 years of Mauritanians,” analysts told the BBC.

“All of these countries are also starting points for illegal immigration,” he added.

“This is an extremely important point for him [Trump’s] Immigration policy, every day people go back to the border. ”

Mauritania is the only of five countries with no diplomatic ties to our ally Israel – cut them in 2009 in the offensive in Gaza – Sources told Semafor Restoring them could be the crux of any possible White House deal.

Visa overdue rates are another problem to be solved – especially for Gabon and Liberia, both of which are higher than Burundi Last month, the restrictions on travel restrictions in the United States were considered a key reason.

Liberia may also be considering the United States accepting people deported by the United States, including criminals. The country reportedly has close historical ties to the United States and has been included in the proposed list of countries close to the United States.

The country was succumbed to a 14-year civil war, followed by the devastating Ebola epidemic a decade ago, and urgently needed cash as it was severely affected by U.S. aid cuts.

This impact is felt in particular by its fragile health system, which relies on the U.S. budget for 48% of funds.

Guinea-Bissau, which has suffered a series of coups and attempted coups over the years, reportedly reopened in the capital Bissau after the Army rebels in 1998.

President Umaro Cissoko Embaló apparently invited Guinea-Bissau for the White House invitation, which a few years ago was marked by the United States and the United Nations as the “Narco State” because it was once the main transport hub for cocaine from Latin America to Europe and Europe and Europe and North America.

“Guinea-Bissau has now emerged from a state of chaos and become a real state. Americans don’t just invite any country into their country – just a well-structured country,” he said at the airport before leaving Washington.

He and his opponents – Brice Clotaie Oligui Nguema of Gabon, Joseph Boakai of Liberia, Mohamed Older Older Older Older Older Older Older Gozwani of Mauritania and Bassirou diomaye Faye of Senegal – hope they hold some cards that trade with Trump.

Of course they don’t want to replay May South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Trump in Notorious High-Stakes Meeting in Oval Officethis can hardly ease the relationship.

In fact, it seems completely counterproductive, as Africa’s largest economy found its exports to the United States this week from next month Crack down 30% tariffs.