U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a $45 million contribution on Tuesday to address the escalating security concerns in Nigeria and neighbouring coastal West African countries.
Blinken, currently on a four-country tour across West Africa, disclosed the additional funding during his meeting with Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, in Côte d’Ivoire.
The latest financial commitment supplements the $300 million the U.S. had previously allocated to support initiatives in coastal West Africa over the past two years.
Blinken emphasized the interconnected destinies, populations, and prosperity of America and Africa, stating that this reality drives the presence of the United States in Africa.
Speaking in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire’s capital, Blinken highlighted the mutual security challenges and expressed appreciation for Ivory Coast’s leadership in the fight against extremism and violence.
He noted that the U.S. has increased military training by 15 times and is investing in civil protection in the country.
The West African region has faced security challenges, mainly due to insurgencies that originated in Mali in 2012 and spread across the Sahel region.
Despite international military efforts to contain these insurgencies, there has been a continued impact on countries in the region.
The U.S. has been involved in providing stability-focused assistance, with nearly $300 million allocated since 2022.
As part of Blinken’s West Africa tour, he arrived in Nigeria today and expected to end the tour with a trip to Angola.
