Washington, 15 March 2022 (TDI): The United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Patrick Achi, Prime Minister of Ivory Coast. Bilateral talks related to trade and security issues were discussed.
A grant worth $524.7 million was discussed to be given to Ivory Coat under a program of the US Agency Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) although the grant has yet to be disbursed. The United States also provided over 4.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the country in 2019 in addition to helping the country battle AIDS. Military personnel from both countries also engaged in joint exercises.
Enjoyed meeting Ivoirian Prime Minister Patrick Achi, an important African partner on economic growth, security cooperation, and democratic progress. We join Côte d’Ivoire in the worldwide condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/alh5i1yLyZ
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) March 15, 2022
Echange fertile avec @SecBlinken à Washington, où j’ai partagé les progrès immenses de la Côte d’Ivoire & la vision 2030 d’@AOuattara_PRCI pour l’avenir du pays.
Nous avons constaté notre volonté commune d’agir face au terrorisme & la force de la relation entre nos 2 nations.🇺🇸🇨🇮 pic.twitter.com/dPt8VPVSeV— Patrick Achi (@ACHIPatrick4) March 15, 2022
After the meeting concluded, the Prime Minister of Ivory Coast said that he made the security situation of the country very clear to United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. He added that in the face of the current challenges the country had started to strengthen the training of their soldiers additionally, the West African country is also investing in basic social infrastructure for the integration of young people to be able to improve the living conditions of the populations on the northern borders to try and curb terrorism which is threatening the countries security.
In February the US-led military program for African Forces, known as FLINTLOCK was held in Ivory Coast, as the US started its counter-terrorism training in Ivory Coast
This was done as parts of West Africa continue to face the threats of armed groups as French forces withdraw from Mali. West African countries, particularly Benin and Ivory coast are experiencing increasing attacks. Islamist militants continue to roam across areas of West Africa. Since 2015 more than 2 million people have been killed as a result of the ongoing violence
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