As the US-Africa summit kicks off in Washington, citizens across Senegal and the wider ECOWAS region are watching closely, hopeful for meaningful outcomes. The summit brings together President Donald Trump and leaders from five African nations, including Senegal, Liberia, and Guinea-Bissau.

Amadou Samb, Country Director of BUDGIT Senegal, emphasizes the importance of balanced negotiations. He warns that without a clear strategy, the talks could end up being more symbolic than impactful.

Samb urges African leaders, particularly President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, to advocate for practical, mutual gains that align with the continent’s development goals.

Though expectations remain high, past experiences with such summits suggest cautious optimism may be the wisest approach.