By any measure it 's historic : The vast majority of Africa 's leaders flying to Washington at the invite of the President , whose father was born on the continent , to mark what the White House hopes is a new era of cooperation . While plans for the first African Leaders Summit this week in the nation 's capital are ambitious , the reality is the United States still has strides to make on the kind of political and economic relationships in Africa that can benefit both sides . Other nations , namely China , have turned their focus to the continent as a trade partner . Terrorist networks have expanded their reach in some countries , most notably in Nigeria , where hundreds of schoolgirls remain at large after being kidnapped earlier this year . And while U.S.-backed efforts have helped slow the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa , countries there rate among the lowest in life expectancy and infant mortality . `` The importance of this for America needs to be understood , '' President Barack Obama said on Friday about the summit . He added later that Africa `` happens to be one of the continents where America is most popular and people feel a real affinity for our way of life . '' Here are five reasons that the U.S.-Africa Leader 's Summit , which kicked off on Monday , is important : . 1 . Health scare : The health problems in Africa were underscored this week when an Ebola outbreak prompted leaders of two nations to cancel their trips to Washington . Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf , a Nobel Peace Prize winner , and Ernest Bai Koroma , the leader of Sierra Leone , both said they would remain in their countries . Ebola has killed more than 700 people in three nations : Guinea , Liberia and Sierra . Summit leaders , and even Obama , have stressed there is no risk to Washingtonians from those arriving from Africa this week . Obama said anyone who might have been exposed to the virus would be screened both in their home countries and upon arrival in the United States . But worry over the worsening outbreak only highlighted challenges Africa faces in combating disease and poverty , despite the billions in U.S. aid over the years . `` This is an uphill challenge for them , '' said Gayle Smith , Obama 's senior director for development and Democracy , noting both Liberia and Sierra Leone had recently emerged from periods of civil war . Obama hopes to move past the traditional elements of humanitarian aid to Africa , focusing instead on potential trade . But promoting commercial ties with countries engulfed in Ebola outbreaks could prove to be difficult . The State Department warned against non-essential travel to Sierra Leone and Libera last week , and some schools and businesses have closed . `` The timing is very unfortunate , and no one would have wished for this , '' said Howard French , an associate professor of international affairs at Columbia University . `` Having high-level discussions between the U.S. and Africa on business and investment are infrequent . So to the extent that this distracts from that I think will be regretted all around . '' 2 . Security challenges : Another potential barrier to U.S. investment in Africa : Growing extremism on the continent , which has overwhelmed certain governments . The most flagrant example came earlier this summer , when the group Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 school girls in Nigeria . The incident prompted international outrage and so far , a U.S.-backed team has not located them . Nigeria-based Boko Haram opposes western-style education , and there are fears the group 's influence could be crossing borders . Last month , armed gunman suspected to be Boko Haram militants abducted the wife of Cameroon 's deputy prime minister . Intra-country sniping has followed . Nigeria has expressed frustration with Cameroon for not doing enough to fight Boko Haram on its side of the border , a charge Cameroon has denied . The unrest has inflicted damage on African economies , including Nigeria 's , the largest on the continent . Other African nations combating violent extremism , like Mali , Kenya and Somalia , are also tough sells for U.S. investment . Many of those nations want more U.S. assistance to counter militants , sentiments likely to be expressed at this week 's summit . `` We are concerned about efforts by terrorist groups to gain a foothold in Africa , '' said Ben Rhodes , Obama 's deputy national security adviser . He pointed to U.S. counterterror efforts that aim to partner with nations in stemming unrest . `` We 're looking at how do we get at the broader issue of countering violent extremism in Africa so that these groups , like Boko Haram , like al-Shabaab , like al-Qaeda , are not able to prey on young people with disinformation and intimidation , '' he said . 3 . Countering China : The United States has some catching up to do in Africa when it comes to trade and investment . China 's imports of African oil and natural minerals have skyrocketed over the past two decades . Alongside have come massive Chinese investments in African infrastructure and construction projects , manned by waves of Chinese workers who ended up remaining in Africa . More than a million Chinese citizens now live there . `` Africa is in a very particular moment , economically speaking , '' said French during an interview with CNNI from Nairobi . `` The continent has been growing very fast . Demographically , there 's a bulge in terms of it 's youth population . And Africa needs partnerships . '' Obama wants to make sure the United States is one of those partners , and a more attractive one than China . `` My advice to African leaders is to make sure that if , in fact , China is putting in roads and bridges , number one , that they 're hiring African workers ; number two , that the roads do n't just lead from the mine to the port to Shanghai , but that there 's an ability for the African governments to shape how this infrastructure is going to benefit them in the long term , '' Obama told The Economist last week . 4 . Cementing legacy : Obama 's two predecessors both secured legacy achievements in Africa -- Bill Clinton through his African Growth and Opportunity Act , and George W. Bush through his program combating HIV/AIDS . Obama similarly hopes for a way to leave his mark on the continent after he leaves office , though his status as the first president of African descent has already made history . That fact led some Africans to regard Obama with outsized expectations when he took office in 2009 , leading to some disappointment that he has n't focused more on shoring up U.S.-Africa ties . During his time in office , Obama has focused on terrorism , uprisings in the Arab world , Russian provocations , and the much-awaited pivot to Asia . Obama made his first presidential trip to sub-Saharan Africa in 2009 when he visited Ghana . He did n't return again until 2013 with tour of Senegal , Tanzania and South Africa . He 's embarked upon an initiative that aims to bring electricity to more Africans , and a program supporting young leaders working toward Democratic governments . Both are elements to a legacy designed to shore up conditions for individuals on the continent . And the summit itself , while not expected to produce any large-scale trade agreements , is meant to signal a shift from purely humanitarian assistance to a two-way partnership . `` We believe it can be a game-changer in the U.S.-Africa relationship , '' Rhodes said of the summit . 5 . Not invited : While the bulk of Africa 's leaders will be in Washington , the continent 's most reviled leaders wo n't be attending . They include Zimbabwe 's Robert Mugabe and Sudan 's Omar al-Bashir . They were n't invited because of their alleged human rights abuses . Other controversial leaders -- like Kenya 's Uhuru Kenyatta , accused of crimes at the International Criminal Court -- will attend . Like any major diplomatic gathering , the Africa Leaders Summit has been an exercise in protocol and careful planning . Instead of meeting with leaders separately , Obama has been scheduled for larger group discussions , to the disappointment of some who wanted to talk to him one-on-one . `` We just would n't be able to do bilats with everybody , and so the simplest thing is for the President to devote his time to engaging broadly with all the leaders . That way we 're not singling out individuals at the expense of the other leaders , '' Rhodes said . He noted Obama would speak with each leader individually during a dinner at the White House on Tuesday . That event has taken on state dinner-type proportions , with a large tent constructed on the South Lawn . Organizers have the added stress of accommodating leaders of 50 nations , all with varied religious and cultural sensitivities that must be respected . For example , servers must know who drinks alcohol and who abstains for religious reasons . It 's a reflection of just how diverse Africa is , and how high the stakes are for Obama as he forges new relationships there .
Majority of African leaders convene in Washington for first-ever African leaders summit . Ebola outbreak on the continent sure to distract from talks on trade . U.S. hopes to be a player on the African continent and blunt China 's influence .