The President of the United States, Donald Trump, will meet presidents from five African nations in Washington next week, according to a White House official.
The meeting, scheduled for July 9 at the White House, will bring together heads of state from various Western and Central African countries for high-level discussions on trade, regional security, and investment.
According to the official, the meeting will primarily focus on commercial opportunities.
Trump will host leaders from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal for discussions and a working lunch
“President Trump believes that African countries offer incredible commercial opportunities which benefit both the American people and our African partners,” the official said, referring to the reasons why the meeting was arranged.
Trump to Meet 5 African Presidents
Africa Intelligence and Semafor reported earlier that the Trump administration would hold a summit for the five countries in Washington from July 9 to July 11.
Also Read: Tanzania and Uganda Among 36 Countries Facing Possible US Travel Ban: Here’s Why
The summit follows a peace agreement facilitated by President Trump between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The deal aims to end years of conflict in eastern Congo and includes commitments to withdraw troops, cease support for armed groups, and establish a framework for cross-border and regional economic cooperation.
While the meeting is expected to underscore U.S.-Africa collaboration, it comes amid rising tensions over a looming trade dispute.
Tariffs on African Imports
In April this year, Trump proposed steep new tariffs on African imports as part of his “reciprocal trade” policy.
The proposed tariffs range from 10% on goods from Kenya, Ghana, and Ethiopia to as high as 50% on exports from Lesotho. South African products would face a 30% tariff under the plan.
Also Read: Trump Says Israel Has Agreed to Gaza Ceasefire Terms
Although the tariffs were temporarily postponed for 90 days to allow for negotiations, the grace period is drawing to a close.
Many African leaders heading to Washington are expected to lobby the U.S. administration for an extension—or an outright exemption.
At the same time, the Trump administration has slashed large portions of U.S. foreign aid to Africa, citing a broader effort to reduce spending it deems wasteful and misaligned with Trump’s “America First” agenda.
The administration says it wants to pivot toward trade and investment to drive mutual prosperity.
On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US is moving away from a charity-based foreign aid model and will instead prioritize nations that show “both the ability and willingness to help themselves.”
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
