US President Donald Trump will host five heads of state from coastal West Africa this week, marking a significant step in the White House’s intensifying engagement with the African continent. This mini-summit, scheduled for Wednesday 9 July 2025, is being held in close collaboration with senior presidential adviser Massad Boulos and is part of a broader strategic recalibration of US foreign policy towards Africa.
Attending the working lunch are Presidents Brice Oligui Nguema of Gabon, Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Joseph Boakai of Liberia, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania, and Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal. The selection of these nations—strategically located along the minerals-rich Atlantic coast—highlights key United States interests in the region, namely: preventing the expansion of violent extremism from the Sahel, countering democratic regression, addressing irregular migration, and competing with growing Chinese and Russian influence.
Sources familiar with the administration’s regional outlook have suggested that this engagement reflects a “targeted partnership model,” whereby Washington seeks to collaborate with select African states to advance common goals primarily through trade and investment rather than aid. Speaking to The Africa Report, a senior US official noted that President Trump views Africa as offering “incredible commercial opportunities that will lead to mutual prosperity.”
This policy orientation builds on recent developments such as the announcement of $2.5 billion in new agreements during the US-Africa Business Summit in Luanda last month, reinforcing Trump’s emphasis on economic diplomacy as a cornerstone of US-Africa relations.
Trade analysts have indicated that the mini-summit is occurring amidst notable movement on tariff negotiations between Washington and African governments. Although tariffs introduced in April were initially deferred until 9 July, African countries have reportedly been granted until 1 September to finalise a comprehensive agreement. Negotiations are particularly active among the so-called “Textile Four”—Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, and Mauritius—who benefit from duty-free access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). These nations are currently in discussions to enhance reciprocal market access for US exports in exchange for the preservation of their AGOA privileges.
As part of the wider debate on US-Africa trade relations, the Council on Foreign Relations in New York will convene a virtual roundtable on Tuesday 8 July. The discussion will examine the implications of the conclusion of the 90-day tariff pause, featuring commentary from Francisco Sanchez, a former Undersecretary of Commerce for International Affairs under President Barack Obama and current partner at Holland & Knight.
Simultaneously, a contentious legislative move is developing in Washington regarding the Polisario Front, the Algeria-backed group advocating for Western Sahara’s independence. The conservative Hudson Institute has postponed a discussion featuring Congressman Joe Wilson, a senior Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and co-chair of the Congressional Morocco Caucus. Wilson, along with Democratic co-sponsor Congressman Jimmy Panetta, recently introduced a bill on 24 June advocating for the designation of the Polisario as a foreign terrorist organisation (FTO). The legislation, citing alleged Iranian support for the group, also proposes sanctions aimed at curtailing its activities.
The status of Western Sahara remains a sensitive issue in North African geopolitics, and this proposal—if pursued—could potentially alter diplomatic alignments in the region. For a deeper exploration, The Africa Report provides a detailed analysis on the strategic implications of the Trump administration’s Western Sahara policy.
In related developments, the Brookings Institution will host a high-level panel discussion on Thursday 10 July focused on navigating the emerging global economic landscape. Among the panellists is Hanan Morsy, Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, who is expected to provide an African perspective on economic uncertainty and resilience.
Meanwhile at the United Nations, ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan is scheduled to deliver the semi-annual briefing on the court’s efforts regarding the ongoing situation in Sudan’s Darfur region. This session underscores the international community’s enduring focus on accountability and justice in conflict-affected regions.
Collectively, these developments signal a more transactional and strategically selective US approach to African affairs under President Trump. Whether this framework fosters enduring cooperation or deepens divisions across the continent will largely depend on how such high-level engagements are institutionalised and whether African counterparts find equitable grounds for negotiation and partnership.
