Since the collapse of Libya in North Africa in 2011, ISIS and Al Qaeda affiliates have spread south, sparking instability across West Africa, and making it the epicenter of global Islamist terrorism. Violent extremist attacks have risen tenfold there since 2020.

Spirit of America has worked with US troops and diplomats in West Africa since 2017 to promote stability, improve lives in marginalized communities, and help bring extremist fighters off the battlefield. This has included over 150 projects in the region, including Niger, Burkina Faso, and Cote d’Ivoire.

Today, Spirit of America is working with US troops, embassy personnel, and African officials in Benin to help halt the spread of Islamist terrorists. By supporting projects between Benin’s military and local communities vulnerable to extremist violence and recruitment, we are building trust, cooperation and security between local communities and those who serve them on the frontlines. And, by partnering with US officials, Spirit of America and its supporters help American troops’ safety and success in their mission.

To slow the infiltration of ISIS and Al Qaeda-affiliated groups today, we are working with US troops, diplomats, and Beninese partners to do the following:

Provide medical care for more than 2,100 people
US Special Operations Forces and Beninese military doctors have treated thousands of families at temporary medical field clinics in rural communities. Spirit of America provided the supplies, including medicine and vaccinations, that made treatment possible and built stronger connections between the communities served and the Beninese military.

This medical care provides vital lifesaving care. Our team was there when it saved the life of a comatose child with a high fever due to malaria. The US and Beninese doctors rushed to get him an IV and bring his fever down. They saved his life.

Spirit of America donations also helped a woman safely give birth to a healthy baby that same day, among hundreds of other life-saving interventions.

Treat livestock as main source of income for tribal groups
Nomadic herders across Northern Benin are particularly vulnerable to recruitment by Islamist extremist groups. To meet their needs, Spirit of America is funding a campaign to vaccinate their livestock — the center of the herders’ livelihood — with the goal of vaccinating thousands of cattle. The program also creates valuable connections between the herders and the Beninese army who can then help address additional problems. See past successful veterinary support programs in West Africa.
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Expand our efforts where needed
The ISIS and Al Qaeda-affiliated groups that have infiltrated West Africa do not respect national borders. They take advantage of large swaths of sparsely populated land to intimidate communities and increase their area of activity. We are continuing to explore ways we can help our troops and diplomats push back against terrorism in other Coastal West African countries, including in Cote D’Ivoire, where we helped establish a center that gathers, analyzes, and shares security and border operations information to help detect and respond to terrorist activity across the region.

100% of your donation will go directly to the expenses of implementing these projects and assistance in the region. Donations in excess of this project’s need will be offered a refund. We are proud to be rated 4 stars by Charity Navigator.