The U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, is set to meet with the presidents of Nigeria and Ivory Coast on Tuesday in an effort to strengthen ties with key African democracies amid global crises. In Abidjan, Blinken will engage with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, recognized for his role in consolidating democracy. He will then proceed to Abuja to meet Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who was elected last year with a focus on economic reforms.
Despite some reservations across the continent regarding Western priorities, especially the focus on Ukraine and U.S. support for Israel, both Nigeria and Ivory Coast have generally supported the United States. These West African nations, with one being English-speaking and the other French-speaking, aligned with the U.S. in a 2022 United Nations vote condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
While Blinken won’t visit South Africa, a country accused by the U.S. of allowing arms shipments to Russia, he will visit Angola, which has successfully transitioned from war to democracy and played a crucial role in mediating conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Blinken’s trip also included a stop in Cape Verde, a long-standing U.S. partner.
Blinken, aiming to highlight a positive approach, attended a key football match in the Africa Cup of Nations and received a gift of an Ivorian orange jersey bearing his name. He emphasized the U.S.’ commitment to Africa during a visit to a port in Cape Verde, stating, “We see Africa as an essential, critical, central part of our future.”
However, President Joe Biden failed to fulfill his promise to visit Africa in 2023. Blinken’s current trip marks his first to sub-Saharan Africa in 10 months. During his last visit, he went to Niger to support elected President Mohamed Bazoum, who was later ousted by the army. The coup leaders expelled French troops but allowed the presence of around 1,000 U.S. troops.
Ivory Coast and Nigeria have condemned Niger’s coup, with Ouattara even considering the possibility of military intervention. Ouattara has received praise for his efforts to curb insurgency in northern Ivory Coast through economic support for young people, aligning with the Biden administration’s call for a less military-centric approach to the Sahel region.
Blinken’s meeting with Nigerian President Tinubu is a significant high-level interaction, following Tinubu’s call for an inquiry into a recent Nigerian army drone strike that mistakenly killed 85 civilians—an initiative welcomed by the United States.
