Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has met with American President Donald Trump in Washington. It marked the first official visit by an African leader from south of the Sahara desert to the White House since Trump took office.

The American leader has been criticized for reportedly making insulting and offensive comments about African nations. The meeting is being seen as an attempt to reset U.S. relations with Africa. During public comments with Buhari, Trump talked mostly about common goals and shared interests. These included fighting terrorism and expanding trade.

"We love helicopters — he loves them more than I do," Trump joked. He was referring to his administration's decision to approve a $600-million military sales deal to Nigeria.  Buhari thanked Trump for approving the sales agreement. The administration of former President Barack Obama had suspended it in reaction to reports of human rights abuses in Nigeria.

"I worked it out so that now you can buy the helicopters that you want," Trump said. He added, "We make the best military equipment in the world, and our friends can now buy it."

Human rights groups have accused the Nigerian military of torture, rape and illegal killings in its nine-year battle against the Boko Haram extremist group. Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the Islamist rebellion. Boko Haram has also kidnapped hundreds of school girls. The group’s activities have spread to neighboring countries.

Aliqismet BADALOV,
“Khalq qazeti”