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| President Muhammadu Buhari |
Muhammadu Buhari, elected president of
Nigeria in March, seeks to mend ties with the U.S. as he meets Monday at the
White House with President Barack Obama to discuss combating extremism in
Africa.
As the Boko
Haram militant group runs amok in Nigeria’s north, Obama views the peaceful
transfer of power to Buhari as an opportunity to bolster the U.S. fight against
terrorism, aid economic growth in the country and reduce human-rights abuses.
Later in the
week, Obama travels to Kenya and Ethiopia, which face threats from
Somalia-based militants.
Buhari, who
purged the Nigerian military’s top commanders last week, is seeking U.S. advice
and cooperation in rolling back Boko Haram. His administration also wants
support for Nigeria’s ailing economy, as Africa’s largest oil exporter suffers
from a decline in oil prices, a surge in piracy and competition from the boom
in U.S. shale production.
“Nigeria is
by far the most important country in Africa, from north Egypt all the way to
south South Africa,” said Johnnie Carson, Obama’s former Assistant Secretary of
State for Africa Affairs. “It’s in our interest to be better trading partners,
it’s in our interest to be better security partners and it’s in our interest to
work to promote deeper political and human rights around the continent.”
The Obama
administration may offer new military training and intelligence assistance to
support Buhari’s fledgling government, Carson, a fellow at the United States
Institute of Peace in Washington, said in an interview.
Business
leaders, meanwhile, are watching the meeting for signals of improved relations
between the U.S. and Africa’s largest economy, said John Kilduff, an oil trader
with Again Capital.
Corruption,
insecurity and political instability have restricted foreign investment in
Nigeria. The largely violence-free election of Buhari, 72, who unseated
incumbent Goodluck Jonathan with an anti-corruption platform, is improving the
atmosphere.
“I think everybody in the oil market has got
their eye on things being straightened up there for renewed investment,” Carson
said in a telephone interview. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there was some
measure announced or goals set for increasing trade or aid to Nigeria, or maybe
even encouragement of U.S. oil companies getting back in there.”
The fight
against Boko Haram will be at the top of the agenda during Buhari’s four-day
visit to Washington, which will include meetings with U.S. military leaders.
Boko Haram has sought to impose Islamic sharia law in Nigeria for six years in
a campaign of violence that has killed more than 17,000 people, according to
Amnesty International.
Boko Haram
has claimed responsibility for scores of bombings, shootings and kidnappings,
and in March pledged allegiance to Islamic State. It has intensified attacks in
recent weeks.
About 1.4 million people have been displaced by the
conflict. Eleven people were killed on Friday in suicide bombings 
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