Blinken pledges $45m to counter militant threat in West Africa

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged $45 million for West Africa’s security yesterday, in a meeting with Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara in the Ivorian city of Abidjan.

The region has struggled with the rise of terrorist groups in recent years, including Jama’at Nusrat Al Islam wal Muslimin – which is affiliated with Al Qaeda – and the Islamic State of Greater Sahara.

While the threat remains most pressing in the Sahel, an area that covers thousands of square kilometres across northern Africa from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, it has begun to migrate south, affecting countries such as Ivory Coast, Benin and Togo.

Ivory Coast, one of West Africa’s most robust economies and governments, has become a significant US partner in combatting terrorism.

“Cote d’Ivoire [Ivory Coast] is an essential partner for us and for other countries in the region that are trying to move forward,” Mr Blinken said.

“We appreciate particularly the leadership shown by Cote d’Ivoire in countering extremism and violence.”

Since 2022, the US has contributed nearly $300 million in “stability-focused assistance”.

“The security of our region is difficult and we appreciate the US for its support in countering terrorism,” Mr Ouattara said.

The Ivorian President has been outspoken in his opposition to last year’s coup in Niger, when a military junta overthrew and detained democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum.

Niger had been a crucial partner in the region’s fight against terrorism. The US still has about 1,000 soldiers there.

The National is accompanying Mr Blinken on his tour of West Africa, where he is trying to assert US leadership and promote American investment.

“We’re here for a very simple reason – because America and Africa’s futures, their peoples, their prosperity are linked … as never before,” said Mr Blinken.