Leaders of five African countries head to Washington to meet Trump

Five West African leaders are travelling to Washington this week for a somewhat surprise meeting: US president Donald Trump announced in late June that he would host the heads of state of Liberia, Senegal, Gabon, Mauritania and Guinea-Bissau for a three-day meeting.

Washington has cited “commercial opportunities” as the reason for the mini-summit, lasting from 9 to 11 July.

It’s seen as the first major diplomatic outreach to Africa from…