On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a bold commitment, pledging an additional $45 million to tackle the escalating conflict and enhance stability along the coast of West Africa. This region has witnessed a surge in insecurity attributed to jihadist insurgencies in recent years.

Currently embarking on the second leg of his four-nation African tour, Blinken’s journey spans Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Angola from January 21-26. The purpose of this diplomatic mission is to engage in discussions on crucial U.S.-African collaborations encompassing trade, climate, infrastructure, health and security, among other pressing issues. This tour follows a summit in Washington with African leaders held in December 2022.

Key topics during Blinken’s visit include addressing security challenges in West Africa, grappling with the aftermath of last year’s coup in Niger and navigating the rising influence of Russia in the region.

Arriving in Ivory Coast’s financial hub, Abidjan, on Monday evening, Blinken met with President Alassane Ouattara on Tuesday morning. During a joint press briefing, the Secretary of State announced the additional financial support, emphasizing the importance of Ivory Coast’s leadership in countering extremism and violence.

Ivory Coast, like several other coastal West African nations, has been grappling with the impact of Islamist insurgencies that originated in Mali in 2012 and spread across the Sahel region despite extensive international military efforts.

Blinken highlighted that the new funding would complement the $300 million already invested by the U.S. in coastal West Africa over the past two years. He underscored the increased focus on military training and civil protection in Ivory Coast, emphasizing a 15-fold rise in military training initiatives.

President Ouattara acknowledged the persistent security challenges in the region and expressed gratitude for U.S. support, particularly in intelligence and the fight against terrorism.

The U.S. faced setbacks in the Sahel region when military officers toppled Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum, a key ally, in July last year. This coup was part of a series of military takeovers and attempted power grabs across West and Central Africa over the past three years, raising concerns about regional stability. Juntas in the region have also severed ties with traditional Western allies, such as the European Union and France, which withdrew thousands of troops from the Sahel last year.

Blinken’s busy itinerary also included a meeting with Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, at a sub-regional rice research institute in the afternoon. The Secretary of State is scheduled to fly to Nigeria in the evening, continuing his diplomatic efforts to strengthen ties and address pressing issues in the region.

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