Why Trump Met 5 African Presidents and Excluded the Continent’s Biggest Economies?

Sudanhorizon – Mohamed Osman Adam
Perhaps analysts who describe US President Trump as fickle, untrustworthy, and unpredictable in his actions and reactions are mistaken. His actions, and his unwavering commitment to them, prove that the mindset of a profit-seeking businessman has never left him!
Both German Radio (DW) and the Nigerian Business News magazine published articles about his invitation to five African presidents this week (perhaps today or tomorrow) to visit Washington. However, his choice of the five countries sparked controversy in West Africa, even though he has not deviated from the path he charted during his first presidential term and has reinforced it in his second. Trump has avoided inviting most of the economic powers in West Africa, preferring countries that are smaller in area and population but richer in untapped resources. In doing so, he is implementing his consistent “America First” policy, and his motivation for every move is to bring his country’s interests and capital, as he has done in the Gulf, Ukraine, Iran, South America, Canada, and Europe as a whole.
The German media Deutsche Welle reports that the US president invited the leaders of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal to Washington this week, and that the agenda, according to experts,includes more than just trade opportunities.
Ines Paul, Deutsche Welle’s Washington correspondent, says, a White House official made clear last week that President Trump believes African countries offer tremendous trade opportunities that benefit both the American people and our African partners.
In another update to his remarks, Trump highlighted the enormous trade potential of African countries, indicating that strengthening economic ties with them could benefit both parties. It pointed out that this coincides with his administration’s reduction of US foreign aid to Africa, considering it “wasteful and inconsistent with his ‘America First’ agenda.” Instead, the focus has shifted toward trade and investment, particularly in West Africa’s vital mining sector and regional security.
Why these five countries?
The German news outlet says that Trump’s approach to Africa appears to have evolved since his first term. During a meeting at the White House on January 10, 2018, Trump described Haiti and several African countries as “shithole’’ states.
However, Professor Souleymane Bachir Diagne, a Senegalese professor and researcher at Columbia University in New York City, says, “Yes, we remember those harsh words, but things have changed. Africa is now the focus of the Trump administration. The continent is considered an ideal place to make economic deals.”
But if Trump’s agenda is truly focused on deals and putting America first, why invite the heads of these five relatively small economies? “It’s surprising,” says Diane. “One would expect the usual heads of state—large economies like South Africa or Nigeria. But instead, we have these five countries, which is something many would not have expected.”
What role do natural resources play?
In terms of trade volume with the United States, the five countries are relatively minor players. However, they all possess vast, untapped natural resources:
– Gabon is rich in oil, manganese, uranium, iron ore, gold, and rare earth elements.
– Guinea-Bissau has vast deposits of phosphates, bauxite, oil, gas, and gold.
– Liberia has significant manganese and gold reserves, and diamonds have recently been found near its border with Sierra Leone.
-Mauritania is rich in iron ore, gold, copper, oil, natural gas, and rare earth elements (and no one should belittle sand and dirt anymore, saying they are as cheap as the dirt of the earth).
They do not realize that rare earth elements (REEs) are used in a wide range of technologies and industries, including high-tech devices, magnets, batteries, catalysts, and more. They are essential components in many common technologies, from smartphones and LED lights to hybrid cars and wind turbines.

-Senegal is rich in gold, phosphates, iron ore, and rare earth minerals, in addition to oil and gas fields.
However, there are other factors, experts told the German outlet, that may have prompted Trump and his administration to choose these countries.
What about migration and drugs?
The German DW quotes Zakaria Ould Amar, an international consultant from Mauritania, as saying, “Controlling migration and drug routes—that’s what Donald Trump really cares about.”
These five countries lie directly on the refugee and migrant routes that have, over the years, driven tens of thousands to the US-Mexican border. International drug routes also pass through them. Across this region.
Amar notes that these security issues will dominate Trump’s talks with the five African leaders. “Economically, these countries are of little importance at the moment. I don’t see what Trump can realistically negotiate with them in terms of trade or business.”
However, Professor William Ferreira, a US affairs expert from Guinea-Bissau, questions the feasibility of this meeting, saying, “I doubt this meeting will bring tangible benefits to the African countries involved. There is no such thing as a free lunch.”
He says, “Our president’s trip to Washington to meet with Trump is not good news for Guinea-Bissau or its people.” Ferreira notes that the Trump administration has suspended or significantly reduced funding for aid projects in Africa, as well as in Guinea-Bissau, dampening any hopes associated with the meeting in Washington.
The five countries face legal and constitutional challenges:
For Guinea-Bissau’s President, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, this meeting represents an opportunity to demonstrate his status as a respected statesman on the international stage, despite significant domestic challenges. His term officially ended in February, yet he remains in office amid questions about the legality of its continuation. The fate of the elections scheduled for December remains uncertain.
All five regimes, not just Guinea-Bissau, suffer from serious institutional problems and violations of the rule of law. But this doesn’t bother Trump. He wants to demonstrate that he still has allies in Africa. For the five presidents, this event represents an opportunity to present themselves as important and legitimate leaders internationally. In fact, from their perspective, it significantly enhances their standing.
Gabon’s current president, Brice Oligui Nguema, has faced serious corruption allegations and is linked to the recent coup that ousted Ali Bongo Ondimba.
Liberia faces significant social challenges. Joseph Boakai has been president since January 2024. Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, a general and politician, has been in office since August 2019, but the country faces serious social problems.
Senegal, led by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye since 2024, faces accusations of facilitating illegal international migration. Guinea-Bissau remains embroiled in institutional crises, with civil society groups accusing Umaro Sissoco Embalo of dismantling democratic structures and seeking to establish a dictatorship. His legitimacy is seen not as coming from the people, but rather from international endorsements, such as the Washington meeting.
Diplomatic Success or Political Showmanship?
Lesmis Monteiro, a presidential advisor in Guinea-Bissau, offers a different perspective. “The selection of Sissoco Embalo among Trump’s five is a diplomatic triumph,” he told Deutsche Welle. “He is a resolute leader, respected and admired by the world’s most powerful statesmen: Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Emmanuel Macron, and now Donald Trump.”
Monteiro highlights ideological compatibility as a key factor in the choice. “Trump and our president share similar values: a strong emphasis on national sovereignty and traditional values.”
Guinea-Bissau’s geostrategic location is crucial for the United States, and economically, the country could become a focus of US interest in the medium term. Oluwatosin Ogunjuegbe, a columnist for the daily business newspaper Business, wondered why Trump is meeting with five African presidents this week, and Nigeria is not invited. He says US President Donald Trump will host the leaders of five African countries in Washington next week to discuss business opportunities. However, Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, will not be in attendance. A White House official announced on Wednesday that Trump will host the presidents of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal for talks and lunch at the White House on July 9.
The meeting will focus on “commercial opportunities” that could benefit both American companies and African partners.
However, when asked why the meeting was held, the White House official explained, “President Trump believes that African countries offer great business opportunities that benefit both the American people and our African partners.”
Nigeria’s absence from the guest list is particularly notable, given that it is Africa’s most populous nation, with over 200 million people, and the continent’s largest economy. It is also a major oil producer and enjoys close trade ties with the United States.
Africa Intelligence and Semaphore previously reported that the Trump administration would hold a summit of the five countries in Washington from July 9 to 11, although the White House has so far only confirmed a one-day meeting. This invitation comes as the Trump administration has significantly reduced US foreign aid to Africa as part of broader spending cuts. The administration argues that much of the previous aid has been wasteful and has not achieved its objectives. This move is in line with Trump’s “America First” approach, in that instead of traditional aid programs, the administration says it wants to focus on trade and investment that brings shared prosperity to both America and African countries.
All five countries invited to meet with Trump are from West Africa, and many have close historical ties to the United States. For example, Liberia was founded by freed American slaves in the 19th century and has maintained strong ties with America ever since. However, the criteria for selecting the invited countries remain unclear, particularly given the absence of Nigeria, despite its economic importance and existing trade ties with the United States.
Recently, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined this new approach, stating that America is moving away from what he called a philanthropic model of foreign aid. Rubio explained that the United States will now favor countries that demonstrate “the ability and willingness to help themselves.”
Rather than providing aid and development assistance, the focus will be on concluding trade deals that benefit American companies while simultaneously helping African economies grow.
Troy Vittrell, a senior official in the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, revealed in May that US diplomats working in Africa will now be evaluated based on the number of trade deals they help broker. This represents a significant change from previous administrations, which measured success through development and humanitarian assistance programs.

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