US approves $413m for Nigeria’s anti-insurgency war in West Africa

The allocation is part of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) budget and underscores Washington’s response to intensifying violence across the region.

The measure, part of a larger defence spending bill that approves $901 billion in total military expenditure and a four per cent pay rise for US service personnel, marks the 65th consecutive annual defence authorisation.

The funding comes amid an escalation of violence from jihadist insurgents, armed bandits, and maritime criminals across Nigeria and its neighbours.

In Nigeria, the long-running insurgency in the North-East persists alongside widening banditry in the North-West and piracy threats in the Gulf of Guinea. Neighbouring Mali continues to face intensified militant activity, while northern Benin has seen a spillover of violence from the Sahel.

“This delivery supports Nigeria’s ongoing operations and emphasises our shared security partnership,” the command said in a statement.

The enhanced cooperation follows US air strikes on suspected terrorist hideouts in Nigeria’s Sokoto State on Christmas Day 2025, conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities.

These actions reflect a broader shift in US military involvement across the region, including intelligence sharing and operational support to counter extremism.

The defence authorisation law also introduces significant institutional changes in Washington’s Africa policy.

It establishes a new Assistant Secretary for African Affairs at the State Department and creates a Bureau of African Affairs to oversee US foreign policy and assistance across sub-Saharan Africa. These moves signal an expanded diplomatic and strategic focus on the continent.

Analysts suggest that the combination of increased funding and institutional emphasis reflects Washington’s recognition of the deepening security challenges in West Africa and the need for sustained engagement with regional partners.