During a Thursday summit at the White House, President Trump met with the leaders of five West African nations, Liberia, Senegal, Mauritania, Gabon, and Guinea-Bissau, to discuss economic and security cooperation. At the same time, his administration quietly urged each of these countries, ahead of the meeting, to accept migrants the U.S. is attempting to deport, particularly individuals whose countries of origin have refused or delayed their return, a World Street Journal article revealed.
According to an internal State Department memo, the U.S. proposal seeks “safe and dignified” transfers to third countries, with returned migrants barred from being sent home until their U.S. asylum claims are fully adjudicated. Although none of the African delegates publicly addressed the request, U.S. officials emphasized that their cooperation on migration issues ties directly to potential trade and investment support.
This initiative follows earlier agreements, such as one reached with Panama, and ongoing negotiations with nations including Rwanda and Libya. It comes against the backdrop of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling affirming the federal government’s right to deport individuals convicted of serious crimes to third countries.
In addition to migration, Trump and the African leaders discussed avenues for increasing U.S. investment in Africa’s mineral-rich regions. The administration is shifting from traditional aid grants toward more commercial partnerships, particularly following USAID’s winding down in several countries, a development that has raised concerns in nations like Liberia that have relied heavily on such assistance.
Mauritania’s delegation also engaged in a side meeting with Israeli counterparts, indicating the White House is trying to extend its influence in Africa through diplomatic links like the Abraham Accords.
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