Antony Blinken, the United States Secretary of State, is set to meet with the presidents of Nigeria and Ivory Coast on Tuesday, aiming to strengthen ties with key African democracies amidst global crises. In Abidjan, Blinken will confer with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, recognized for his efforts in consolidating democracy. Subsequently, he will travel to Abuja to meet Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who assumed office last year with a focus on economic reforms.
The meeting holds significance as both West African nations, one English-speaking and the other French-speaking, have generally aligned with the United States. This alignment persists despite some unease in the continent regarding Western priorities, particularly the focus on arming Ukraine and recent U.S. support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas.
Nigeria, being Africa’s most populous country, and Ivory Coast, along with Kenya in East Africa, sided with the United States in a 2022 United Nations vote condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.