US president Donald Trump will meet with the leaders of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal from 9 to 11 July.
The meeting comes as a surprise, although some analysts have taken it as a continuation of intensifying American diplomatic efforts towards the African continent.
Last month, the White House notably brokered a peace deal between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, putting a preliminary end to hostilities and Rwandan-backed rebel groups fighting DRC troops in the east of the country for several months.
While a bilateral meeting with South African president Cyril Ramaphosa in May went down with more tensions, with some describing Trump “ambushing” the South African leader, the upcoming mini-summit next week is likely to focus mostly on trade relations and commercial opportunities.