The United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Abidjan on 22 January, as part of a tour that will also take him to Nigeria and Angola. His 24-hour visit to Côte d’Ivoire included an audience with President Alassane Ouattara, at which the two discussed the implementation of the Millennium Challenge Account, which should enable Côte d’Ivoire to obtain more than $525m in development grants.
But it’s the security situation in the sub-region – and more particularly in Niger – that was top of the agenda.
Côte d’Ivoire is increasingly surrounded by states run by coup leaders, and the Sahel has for several years been used as a super-highway for drug and weapons smuggling, according to the UN.
Regional point man
Ouattara, who has US President Joe Biden’s ear on international issues, already receives significant support from the US in Côte d’Ivoire’s fight against terrorism, extremism, and cocaine. The regular contact between American and Ivorian security personnel has increased in recent weeks, with the head of the West Africa office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, based in Dakar, regularly travelling to Côte d’Ivoire for meetings.
Jessica Davis Ba, the US ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, is one of the Ivorian government’s main contacts at the US State Department. During preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations, which is currently taking place in Côte d’Ivoire, until 11 February, the diplomat asked the White House to deploy an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft belonging to the CIA to Abidjan.
The Americans also sent analysts specialising in intelligence cross-checking. General Michael Langley, head of AFRICOM, the US military command for Africa, held talks with vice-president Tiémoko Meyliet Koné in Abidjan in July 2023. The 11th African Land Forces Summit, organised by the Pentagon, was held in Abidjan in May.
In addition, according to our sources, the Pentagon is considering setting up a surveillance and attack drone base in Côte d’Ivoire.
Beijing calling
Blinken’s visit arrives five days after China’s foreign minister Wang Yi visited Côte d’Ivoire.
Abidjan is seeking further investment for the logistics section, while China’s representative was keen to thank Ouattara for the continued support of Cote d’Ivoire over the Taiwan sovereignty issue.
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