During a meeting with the President of Ivory Coast in Abidjan on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged $45 million in new funding for security in West Africa. The region has been grappling with the rise of terrorist groups, including Jama’at Nusrat Al Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) affiliated with al Qaeda and the Islamic State of Greater Sahara.
While the security threat has been predominantly concentrated in the Sahel region, stretching across northern Africa from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, it has begun to migrate southward, affecting countries such as Ivory Coast, Benin, and Togo.
Ivory Coast, with one of West Africa’s most robust economies and governments, has emerged as a crucial partner for the United States in the fight against terrorism in the region.
“Cote d’Ivoire [Ivory Coast] is an essential partner for us and for other countries in the region that are trying to move forward,” stated Secretary Blinken at the opulent Presidential Palace. He expressed appreciation for Ivory Coast’s leadership in countering extremism and violence.
Since 2022, Washington has contributed nearly $300 million in “stability-focused assistance,” according to the US State Department. Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara acknowledged the challenging security situation in the region and expressed gratitude to the US for its support in countering terrorism.
