Nestled in the rural landscape of Ivory Coast, the village of Kimbirila-Nord, with its tomato farms and livestock, seems distant from the concerns of international security. Yet, it has become a strategic point in the combat against extremist influences following a jihadi assault on a nearby Malian community five years ago. That incident led the U.S. to initiate a $20 million program aimed at curbing the influence of groups like al-Qaida and the Islamic State in this region and in surrounding areas. These efforts, however, are now threatened by considerable foreign aid reductions under the Trump administration, during a period where violence in Mali and the broader Sahel is climbing, driving scores of refugees into northern Ivory Coast.
There is palpable apprehension among locals, who feel neglected as diplomatic and aid officials caution that reducing aid compromises counterterrorism efforts and diminishes U.S. sway in a region increasingly seeking help from Russian private military companies. In Kimbirila-Nord, funds from the U.S provided critical support through job training for youth, constructed safe grazing areas, and developed a communication network for reporting violent incidents, crucial for fostering community resilience against extremist enticement.
“What brings young people to extremist groups is poverty and hunger,” states Yacouba Doumbia, the 78-year-old village chief. “During a critical time in 2020, this project allowed us to safeguard ourselves.”
The broader landscape across West Africa has experienced tremors of extremist activity and governmental destabilizations over the past ten years, as groups allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State have expanded their influence, especially into affluent West African coastal nations like Ivory Coast, Benin, and Togo. The Global Fragility Act, signed by President Trump in 2019, spearheaded initiatives in northern Ivory Coast with the objective of taking advantage of a fleeting opportunity for preventive actions, and according to a congressional report, this was a pivotal goal of the bipartisan legislation.
Local grievances, including competition over land, exclusion, marginalization, and limited economic prospects, fuel the popularity of these extremist entities, with the groups preying on communities neglected by central authorities. A U.N. representative underscored that “Ivory Coast is among the few remaining bastions against the terrorist advance in the Sahel,” warning that overlooking support for border communities could escalate grievances and drive individuals towards extremist factions.
With Trump’s directive in January to freeze foreign aid and scrutinize U.S.-sponsored international development, characterized by claims of it promoting an undue liberal agenda, concerns mount over the future of these preventative initiatives.
In 2020, the proximity of conflict was palpable when jihadis targeted a village only 10 kilometers (6 miles) away, placing Kimbirila-Nord on the brink. With unrestricted cross-border movement, it was easy for the insurgents, familiar with local languages like Bambara, to infiltrate the settlement. Inhabitants, largely absent of ID cards and with limited knowledge of French, struggled to access official resources and information, while tensions amongst diverse ethnic groups over scarce resources and distrust in governmental structures compounded the vulnerability.
“We felt fear when the insurgents arrived,” confessed Aminata Doumbia, the cooperative leader of the village’s women farmers. “Everyone retreated into themselves.”
While the Ivorian state runs a program offering professional training and loans, access is stymied in communities like Kimbirila-Nord. This village shelters refugees from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea, exemplified by 23-year-old Sifata Berte, who fled from Mali two years prior. Though ineligible for the national program, Berte benefitted from U.S. funding through the Agency for International Development, learning skills now employed as a metalwork apprentice.
Additional USAID-supported endeavors established radio networks in local dialects to disseminate information and utilized mobile units to equip tens of thousands with identity documents. It promoted unity with a microcredit cooperative and a specialized committee handling disputes over resources, facilitating peaceful coexistence.
“This project allows us to sleep peacefully,” remarked Doumbia, the village leader. “We have learned to live in harmony.”
Equal Access International, an NGO, crafted and executed the U.S.-backed effort, which has also served as the sole on-the-ground source of information on violence in northern Ivory Coast for the U.S.-based Armed Conflict and Location & Event Data Project, a key provider of Sahel violence data.
Ivory Coast emerged onto the extremist radar during a 2016 resort attack in Grand Bassam, with subsequent incursions near its northern perimeter in 2021. Yet, concerted actions by Ivorian authorities, Western allies, and aid organizations have mostly contained the threat. In 2024, the U.S. Africa Command funneled over $65 million into Ivorian projects, prominently geared towards counterterrorism and border security, per a statement from the group. The Pentagon maintains that no budgetary reductions have impacted counterterrorism efforts in the African theater.
Despite possessing the continent’s second-highest per capita GDP, Ivory Coast remains one of the globe’s least developed nations, with remote localities like Kimbirila-Nord lacking basic services such as tap water. “Initially, we believed strictly military solutions could address these concerns,” admitted Famy Rene, prefect of Korhogo, the regional hub. “But it wasn’t enough. We had to implement initiatives to fortify community resilience.”
Before the U.S. aid cessation, Kimbirila-Nord harbored grand plans, anticipating American investment to fund its inaugural well, cultivate collective agricultural ventures, and broaden vocational training.
Now, apprehension looms over managing extremist threats independently. “If you forget, they will return,” warns Doumbia, concerned about the village’s future. “As long as conflict persists across the border, vigilance is imperative.”
