The presidents of Liberia, Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, and Gabon are scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump for a luncheon at the White House on Wednesday to discuss trade and economic issues.

"On Wednesday, the president will host the presidents of five African countries for lunch" at the White House, spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said, without providing further details.

Officials interviewed by AFP said the topics are expected to focus on trade, investment and security issues, but other issues could be discussed.

According to a statement from the Liberian presidency sent to AFP, this meeting aims to "deepen diplomatic ties, advance common economic objectives and improve security cooperation between the United States and the invited African countries."

Liberian President Joseph Boakai is also expected to discuss "economic development, governance and democratic consolidation" with his American counterpart.

Asked by AFP on Tuesday, the spokesperson for Liberian President Kula Fofana said that Joseph Boakai had accepted this invitation with the aim of ensuring that his country would no longer be "only a recipient" of aid.

"We are more interested in trade and commitments from partners who want to invest" in Liberia, she stressed.

A source close to Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also told AFP that the meeting in Washington would focus on trade diplomacy.

Shortly before leaving for Washington, President Embalo described the visit as "very important" for his country in a statement to the press.

"Economically, this is a huge opportunity opening up for us," he said. He added that he hoped his country would also benefit from the "support" the United States provides to other African countries.

Security and drug trafficking issues could be discussed, AFP learned from a source close to the Guinea-Bissau mission in the United States.

Political instability and poverty in Guinea-Bissau have favored the establishment of drug traffickers, who use the territory as a transit zone for cocaine between Latin America and Europe.

In April, four Latin Americans, sentenced in January by the Bissau-Guinea courts to 17 years in prison each for drug trafficking, were handed over to the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), which transferred them to the United States.

"Assets"

Gabonese President Brice Oligui Nguema is also expected to attend the lunch.

At a press conference on Friday, presidential spokesman Théophane Biyoghe noted "the exceptional nature of this visit."

"Our country is located in the strategic Gulf of Guinea region. Gabon is the only Central African country invited," the spokesperson noted.

"It is a question for Gabon of promoting its strengths and identifying with the United States points of agreement between the United States' vision for African countries and, on the other hand, our development ambitions," particularly around "the industrialization of (our) economy."

The United States lifted sanctions imposed on Gabon in 2023 in response to a coup in late May, after the country held elections in April, in which General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, the leader of the coup, won a presidential mandate with 94.85% of the vote.

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani are also expected to attend the luncheon in Washington, but their presidents declined to comment.

Since returning to the White House, Donald Trump has made significant cuts to his aid to foreign countries.

Washington recently banned entry to its territory to citizens of twelve countries, mainly African. The United States is considering extending its travel ban to 36 additional countries, including Senegal, Mauritania, Gabon, and Liberia.

In late June, American companies pledged to invest in several infrastructure projects in Africa, during a summit that provided an opportunity for Washington to advocate for private investment over public aid.

These agreements were reached during this economic summit which brought together African leaders and representatives of the American government and the private sector in Luanda.