By Muhammad Mamman
The United States is planning to spend about $413m (approximately N587bn) on counterinsurgency operations across Nigeria and other African countries in 2026, amid worsening security conditions in West Africa.
The proposed spending, contained in US budgetary and defence planning documents, is aimed at strengthening military cooperation, intelligence sharing and capacity-building with regional partners facing persistent threats from armed groups.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, continues to grapple with multiple security challenges, including armed banditry, insurgency in the northeast, separatist violence in the southeast and rising criminal activity in parts of the north-central region. Neighbouring countries such as Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have also been battling armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS), with violence spilling across borders.
US officials say the planned funding will support training programmes, logistics, surveillance, and advisory missions designed to help local forces counter armed groups and stabilise affected communities. Part of the allocation is also expected to go towards regional initiatives that promote coordination among West African states.
Security analysts note that the scale of the proposed spending reflects Washington’s growing concern about the expansion of armed groups in the Sahel and coastal West Africa, as well as the potential global implications of prolonged instability in the region.
However, rights groups have repeatedly urged the US and its partners to ensure that counterinsurgency efforts prioritise civilian protection and accountability, warning that abuses by security forces could fuel further unrest.
The spending plan is subject to approval by the US Congress and could still be adjusted before the 2026 fiscal year.
