Since the collapse of Libya in 2011, ISIS and Al-Qaeda affiliates have spread south, sparking instability across West Africa and making it the epicenter of global Islamist terrorism. Terror attacks in Africa have risen tenfold since 2020. As violence spreads, the need for local partnerships has never been greater.

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 Benin, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Cote d’Ivoire.

Today, Spirit of America is working with US troops, embassy and diplomatic personnel, as well as local officials in Benin to help stop the spread of extremism and terrorism in West Africa. 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 front lines. And, by partnering with US officials, Spirit of America and its supporters help ensure 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:

Help provide 2,100 African civilians with access to life-saving medical care

US Special Operations Forces and Beninese military doctors treated thousands of families at temporary medical field clinics in rural communities. Spirit of America provided the supplies, including medicine and vaccines, that made treatment possible and built stronger connections between the communities served and the Beninese military.

This medical care is vital. Our team was on site when treatment saved the life of a comatose child with a high fever caused by 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. These are just two of hundreds of life-saving interventions across Africa.

Support 30+ community projects providing schools, clean water wells, and medicines

We are working with US troops to support Beninese civilian-military engagement — creating connections and building trust between local communities and the Beninese military. Ongoing critical projects include the rehabilitation of schoolhouses, clean water wells, and replenishing community medical clinics with lifesaving medicines.

Empower African tribal groups with a new primary income source

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. See our past successful veterinary support programs in West Africa

Educate locals on terrorist threats

We help the Beninese military reach out to locals to let them know where they can go for help, how to recognize terrorist disinformation, and share reliable information about extremist threats.

Your support can help US troops and African democracies counter Islamist terrorist groups

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 detect and respond to terrorist activity across the region.

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