US President Donald Trump began a three-day summit in Washington DC with the leaders of five African states, an event the White House sees as an "incredible" commercial opportunity. Trump's guests include the leaders of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania and Senegal - all countries with small populations and economies.

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.