The United States has ceased its financial assistance to Ivory Coast, a decision that comes as al-Qaida and other extremist groups are increasingly active near the country’s northern border.
This termination of aid reverses a previous commitment of $20 million aimed at countering the spread of these groups in Ivory Coast and neighboring regions.
The aid package was initiated following a militant attack in nearby Mali five years ago, which led to extremists establishing a base near the Ivorian border.
The Trump administration’s cuts to foreign aid have resulted in the discontinuation of this support, despite escalating violence in Mali and the wider Sahel region.
This instability has driven tens of thousands of refugees into northern Ivory Coast.
Local communities express concerns about being abandoned, while diplomats and aid officials warn that the aid termination undermines counterterrorism efforts and reduces U.S. influence as some nations in the region consider turning to Russian mercenaries.
In Kimbirila-Nord, one of the villages that benefited from the U.S. funding, the aid supported job training for young people, the creation of grazing areas for cattle to prevent theft by Malian militants, and an information-sharing system for residents to report violent incidents.
The 78-year-old village chief, Yacouba Doumbia, emphasized the link between poverty and the appeal of extremism, stating that the U.S. project arrived “at the right time” and enhanced their security.