JOHANNESBURG

African leaders on Wednesday started congratulating Republican candidate Donald Trump on his projected win in Tuesday’s US presidential elections.

“Congratulations to President-elect (Donald Trump) on your election victory. The world needs more leaders who speak for the people. Zimbabwe stands ready to work with you and the American people to build a better, more prosperous and more peaceful world," Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa wrote on X.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu also extended his heartfelt congratulations to Trump, saying he looks forward to strengthening the ties between his country and the US amid the complex challenges and opportunities of the contemporary world.

“Together, we can foster economic cooperation, promote peace, and address global challenges that affect our citizens,” Tinubu was quoted as saying in a statement from Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser.

“Acknowledging the United States' influence, power, and position in determining the trend and course of global events, the Nigerian leader trusts that President Trump will bring the world closer to peace and prosperity,” the statement added.

Guinea Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo also congratulated Trump on his projected victory.

“I wish him every success for his mandate and look forward to strengthening relations between our two countries with him. May this new mandate bring peace and progress,’’ he wrote on his official X account.

Congratulating Trump, Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye said on X: “I look forward to further strengthen the Burundi-USA cooperation.”

Other African leaders who have congratulated Trump include Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe and Democratic Republic of Congo’s Felix Tshisekedi.

* James Tasamba in Rwanda and Timothy Olanrewaju in Nigeria contributed to this story.