Keypoints:
- Trump to host third US-Africa Leaders Summit in September
- Summit to prioritise trade, investment, and critical minerals
- Africa urged to adopt reforms to boost US business ties
PRESIDENT Donald Trump will host the third US-Africa Leaders Summit this September in New York, just ahead of the United Nations General Assembly, his administration announced this week. The gathering is expected to bring together African heads of state, US officials, business leaders, and civil society to deepen economic ties and promote sustainable development across the continent.
It will mark the first such summit under Trump’s leadership and is seen as a strategic move to reaffirm the United States’ influence in Africa amid growing Chinese and Russian engagement in the region.
A trade-first approach
Unlike prior summits hosted by Presidents Obama and Biden, which emphasised development aid and multilateral diplomacy, the Trump administration is prioritising trade, investment, and security cooperation. The summit will centre on boosting private sector-led growth, expanding access to critical minerals, and reforming outdated market structures.
‘Our strategy is clear: the United States seeks mutually beneficial partnerships with African nations rooted in commerce, infrastructure, and shared prosperity,’ said Ambassador Troy Fitrell, the senior official for the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs.
The Trump administration’s Africa strategy is built on three pillars: expanding US-Africa trade, strengthening security cooperation to combat transnational threats, and supporting governance reforms to promote self-reliance among African states.
Critical minerals and corridors in focus
One of the summit’s centrepieces will be US involvement in critical mineral supply chains vital for manufacturing and technology. American officials are expected to reaffirm their commitment to the Lobito Corridor Project, a transnational rail initiative spanning Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, designed to unlock mineral exports and regional integration.
Additional infrastructure plans—including the proposed Liberty Corridor in Liberia and a new West African rail route through Guinea and Mali—may also be discussed, with attention focused on mineral-rich nations looking to attract US investment.
The summit could also revive talk of a proposed Central Corridor aimed at connecting Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, and Zambia to US markets via expanded infrastructure and trade initiatives.
AGOA renewal still uncertain
Ahead of the summit, African leaders and US businesses are urging Congress to renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a trade preference programme set to expire soon. AGOA has played a critical role in positioning the United States as sub-Saharan Africa’s leading export destination between 2000 and 2018.
However, despite support from the US Trade Representative and African allies, renewal remains uncertain. No legislation has yet been introduced in Congress, and insiders suggest AGOA is unlikely to be reauthorised before the summit. Still, the event could serve as a platform to negotiate a modernised version of the programme, especially with new provisions for technology and critical minerals.
Business ties and policy reforms
The Trump administration is expected to press African governments to adopt market reforms that enhance the ease of doing business and attract American capital. Ambassador Fitrell outlined a six-point commercial strategy that includes promoting commercial diplomacy, breaking down tariff barriers, reforming US trade initiatives, and increasing State Department engagement with U.S. firms operating in Africa.
Private sector involvement will be a central theme. US industry associations and companies are already in discussions with administration officials to shape the summit’s investment agenda, particularly in sectors like energy, transport, agriculture, and digital services.
Looking ahead
Though the administration is still finalising the summit’s full schedule, the decision to hold the event in New York—timed to coincide with the UN General Assembly—will likely ensure a high-level turnout from African and international leaders. Members of Congress, many of whom remain wary of China’s growing footprint across the continent, have included a provision in the 2025 National Defence Authorisation Act mandating biennial US-Africa summits.
As the Trump administration gears up for the September gathering, African stakeholders are hopeful it will deliver new opportunities for trade and investment—while reaffirming Washington’s long-term commitment to the continent.
