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

The United States has authorised $413 million in funding for counter-insurgency and security operations in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa in the 2026 fiscal year, according to details of the new National Defence Authorisation Act signed into law in December 2025.

• The United States has approved $413 million for counter-insurgency and security operations in Nigeria and other West African states under its 2026 defence budget.
• The funding, channelled through AFRICOM, comes as violence from insurgency, banditry, and jihadist groups escalates across the region.
• Washington has also stepped up direct military engagement with Nigeria, including equipment deliveries and coordinated air strikes.
• The move reflects the US’s growing strategic focus on Africa amid worsening regional insecurity and global power competition.

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.

While the Act does not specify exactly how the $413 million will be distributed among countries or operations, it represents the full amount requested by AFRICOM for its operations and maintenance budget in Africa.

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.

In recent weeks, the United States has stepped up its engagement with Nigerian security forces. AFRICOM announced delivery of military equipment to Nigerian agencies in Abuja, framing it as part of a shared security partnership.

“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.

In addition, the legislation mandates a comprehensive assessment of Russia’s military posture and activities in Africa, a requirement that could influence US planning across multiple commands, including AFRICOM, Central Command, and European Command.

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.