The United States has officially transferred 12 armoured vehicles to the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire, part of a broader support package originally designated for Niger before the July 2023 military coup disrupted bilateral ties.
In total, 36 armoured vehicles were reallocated to Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Ghana, following Washington’s suspension of military cooperation with Niger. The handover ceremony took place on April 10, 2025, signaling continued U.S. commitment to partnering with democratic and stable West African nations.
The shift in military aid comes amid Niger’s growing isolation under its ruling junta, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), whose populist posture and fractured international relations have coincided with a worsening security crisis and rising terrorist control across parts of the country.
U.S. officials have reaffirmed their focus on supporting nations upholding democratic values, with Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Ghana now positioned as key allies in maintaining regional security across the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea.
