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Notably absent from the gathering, however, were leaders from Africa’s biggest economies including South Africa, which faces the introduction of a 30% reciprocal tariff by the Trump administration, and Nigeria, the continent’s largest oil producer. Nigeria was initially hit with a 14% tariff in April — lowered to a 10% rate during a negotiating period — and faces the threat that Trump may impose unilateral duties if a deal is not reached.

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Ahead of the talks, Liberia’s government announced that it’s signed a $1.8 billion agreement with Ivanhoe Atlantic Inc., majority owned by a company founded by Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. Chairman Robert Friedland. The deal will allow the US mining company to rehabilitate and use the country’s railway infrastructure to transport iron ore from neighboring Guinea for export.

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The Central African nation of Gabon, the world’s second-biggest producer of manganese — which is used to harden steel products — is expecting to discuss potential investments in its minerals industry, Gabon’s ambassador to the US, Noël Nelson Messone, said in an interview.

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“The president of the republic is keen to see Gabon’s natural resources processed locally to add value to the economy, diversify the economy and create jobs,” he said.

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Security issues are also high on the summit’s agenda. Four of the countries — excluding Gabon — are on the periphery of the unstable Sahel region, and may offer opportunities for cooperation in an area that’s been blighted by a decade-long Islamist insurgency and military coups in recent years. The importance has been heightened after the US was forced to shut its drone base in Niger last year, and has strained relations with Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad, which ended a security agreement with the US in April 2024.

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Trump said he would encourage the countries to “make greater investments in defense, hopefully, of course, buying our equipment.” And he said he would raise the issue of immigration as his administration ramps up deporations of undocumented migrants.

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Following is a list of potential investment opportunities the five countries offer:

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Gabon

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In addition to manganese, Gabon also has massive deposits of high-grade iron ore and is a member of OPEC, the oil cartel. Its government last month signed a $3.8 billion pact with the African Export-Import Bank to fund mineral and infrastructure projects in the country.

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Guinea-Bissau

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Guinea-Bissau in February signed four cooperation agreements with Russia to prospect for oil and gas, and explore deposits of bauxite and phosphate — used to make aluminum and fertilizer respectively. Russian aluminum producer United Co. Rusal International PJSC plans to begin mining in the country. The US Drug Enforcement Agency is working with the authorities in the West African nation to curb cartel-linked cocaine trafficking.

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Liberia 

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Liberia’s government announced earlier this year it has deposits of critical minerals including lithium, manganese, cobalt and neodymium that it hopes will attract $3 billion of investment. The Liberian government plans to lobby for US investment in its natural resources, including fisheries, the Monrovia-based Liberian Observer reported last week. The country is historically aligned with the US — it was founded in the 19th century as a homeland for salves freed in America.

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Mauritania

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The country began producing gas from BP Plc’s Greater Tortue Ahmeyim development last year. Like other African nations including Mozambique and Tanzania, the country aims to use gas from projects led by international oil companies to industrialize its economy. The US International Development Finance Corp. is assessing a uranium project in the country.

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Senegal 

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Senegal began exporting liquefied natural gas earlier this year. The country plans to develop more than three gigawatts of gas-to-power capacity by 2050 to reduce its dependence on oil and coal to generate electricity. The government announced in May it’s seeking to attract $1.7 billion of investment to build digital infrastructure including data centers and high-speed internet connections.

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—With assistance from Festus Poquie, Paul Burkhardt, Neil Munshi and Paul Richardson.

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(Updates with Trump tariff remarks in fifth paragraph)

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