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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels on a week-long tour of Africa’s west coast, with the primary goal of maintaining US influence in the face of fierce rivalry from Beijing and Moscow, as well as rising insecurity in the Sahel region.
Blinken’s adventure begins with a brief stay in Cape Verde and continues through Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Angola.
This is his first trip to Sub-Saharan Africa in ten months, and it comes at a time when the international spotlight is on the Ukraine crisis and the Israel-Hamas conflict. Despite President Joe Biden’s unmet commitment to visit Africa in 2023, Blinken’s travel coincides with an evolution of political landscapes since his last visit to the region in March 2023.
Notably, political developments in Niger, where Blinken had supported elected President Mohamed Bazoum, have transpired. Following a military coup that deposed Bazoum, the new leadership is broadening its alliances, including boosting ties with Moscow and expelling French troops.
Russia has increased its influence in numerous French-speaking African countries, increasing concerns about security in the Sahel, where jihadist organizations continue to carry out assaults.
In response to the precarious situation in the Sahel, the US is looking at alternative areas for a drone base, with a focus on coastal countries’ stability. Antony Blinken’s West African visit aims to help these countries build their societies and battle the growing terrorist danger in the Sahel.
Arriving in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where he wants to watch a crucial African Cup of Nations (CAN) match, Blinken will praise the country’s democratic consolidation since Alassane Ouattara took office in 2011.
Côte d’Ivoire, which borders Mali and Burkina Faso, has successfully restrained the Islamist threat with a diversified approach that combines military measures with economic development.
The Biden administration’s ten-year plan, announced last year, focuses on promoting stability and preventing conflict in coastal countries such as Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo, shifting away from a security-focused approach.
The United States commended Cape Verde, Blinken’s first destination, for its democratic stability.
The US has given roughly $150 million through different initiatives, including the expansion of the capital’s port, road improvements, and changes to the drinking water distribution system, with a third aid program currently under discussion.
