To underline its growing importance as an oil producing region, American President George W Bush will meet this week with 11 African leaders - with oil and Iraq at the top of his agenda.
With the Middle East in turmoil due to the Arab-Israeli conflict as well as an imminent American attack on Iraq, American officials fear its oil supplies would be susceptible to a negative Arab reaction to any US military action against Iraq.
As a result, the Americans are looking to other parts of the world for sources of supply and in recent years the country has begun importing more and more oil from Sub-Sahara African - notably Nigeria and Angola.
A US Government think-tank has estimated that in just over decade, West African oil exports to the US will constitute about a quarter of US oil import requirements, up from the current level of 16 per cent.
Apart from Nigeria and booming Angola, other West Africa nations increasing production include Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Congo-Brazzaville as well as Chad, Cameroon and the Sudan.
To ensure security of supply, there have been rumours that the Americans could establish a naval base on Sao Tome e Principe, the island state off the west coast of Africa.
