What Actually Happened

In a shift away from the policy of the Obama administration, President Donald Trump increased counterterrorism assistance to Nigeria. Trump approved the sale of twelve Super Tucano aircraft. In January 2021, shortly before Trump left office, the Nigerian government further proposed purchasing twelve heavy attack helicopters along with munitions and accompanying defense systems. Although the U.S. Congress initially blocked the sale over human rights concerns, President Joe Biden approved it in April 2022.

In the years since 2017, the Nigerian security forces and military have continued to commit human rights violations in their counterinsurgency fight. These have included illegal executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and incommunicado detentions. In one of the worst abuses, reports surfaced in February 2020 of the Nigerian military burning down villages and forcibly displacing hundreds of people.

Boko Haram remained active. Starting in late 2018, instances of violence spiked. Boko Haram increasingly began attacking Nigerian state targets. These targets are primarily military and police personnel. Successful attacks on troops and military installations allowed the group to supply itself to carry out further attacks. There has also been a shift in tactics and a new role for women within the group. Boko Haram has deployed more female suicide bombers than any other terrorist group in history. In 2019 alone, Boko Haram’s attacks forced more than sixty thousand Nigerians to flee to neighboring Cameroon and Chad. 

In May 2021, multiple Nigerian news reports announced the death of Abubakar Shekau. Shekau was the leader of Boko Haram’s main faction. In the months after the announcement, defections from Boko Haram multiplied. The group and various factions that have splintered off from it have continued to conduct attacks in Northern Nigeria.

In February 2023, Nigeria elected a new president, Bola Tinubu. Tinubu received international praise for some early economic reforms after taking office. However, Tinubu has also faced criticism over failing to adopt human rights reforms and allegations of corruption.

The Biden administration has stated its desire for closer U.S. ties with African countries. It has emphasized the importance of democracy and human rights to his administration. Apart from reversing some of Trump’s immigration policies toward Nigeria, Biden has yet to adopt significant or comprehensive policy steps regarding security strategy in West Africa.