The United States has officially handed over 12 armoured vehicles to the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire, marking a significant realignment of American military support in West Africa following the breakdown of relations with Niger’s ruling junta.
The transfer is part of a broader reallocation of 36 armoured vehicles originally destined for Niger before a military coup in July 2023 led Washington to suspend bilateral military cooperation. The remaining vehicles have been redirected to Benin and Ghana, highlighting a U.S. strategic pivot toward stable and democratic partners in the region.
During a handover ceremony in Abidjan on Wednesday, U.S. and Ivorian officials underscored the importance of continued collaboration to combat growing security threats across the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea.
“This transfer demonstrates our commitment to supporting democratic governance and regional stability,” a U.S. representative said, reinforcing the administration’s policy of partnering with nations that uphold democratic values.
The shift in aid comes amid increasing isolation of Niger’s military regime, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), whose populist stance and strained international ties have coincided with a deepening security crisis and expanding terrorist influence in parts of the country.
With Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Ghana now emerging as key U.S. allies in West Africa, American officials say the move is designed to bolster regional defense capabilities and help stem the spread of extremist violence in a volatile geopolitical landscape.
