All five countries invited have abundant natural resources, including manganese, iron ore, gold, diamonds, lithium and cobalt, which are essential for use in current technologies. China has made huge inroads in Africa in recent years, investing heavily across the continent, especially in resource extraction.

President Donald Trump is participating in a multilateral lunch with African leaders on Wednesday. The working lunch in Washington will begin around noon with the presidents of Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau,

The president has said he will host a UFC fight at the White House in 2026 to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence.