What if the most important lesson from 25 years of #counterterrorism work is that military force alone isn't enough? @abernard, counterterrorism expert and founder of our partner @StratStability, wrote for Spirit of America about the rapidly evolving terrorist threat in West Africa, and why creating pipelines between military forces and civilians may be the key to long-term security.

Over the last year, Spirit of America has been working alongside our U.S. military partners, @StratStability, and the Beninese Army (FAB) in Benin to facilitate trust with the local population through #OperationMirador. Civil-military cooperation helps to chip away at the foundations that terrorist groups depend on to operate and survive: social grievances, disenfranchisement, and economic isolation. Providing solutions to the needs identified jointly by the community and military improves coordination — and more importantly, trust — between civilians and the state, and encourages civic engagement and joint governance in fragile areas. In Cobly, a town in northwest Benin, we funded the roof rehabilitation for a 3-room schoolhouse benefitting 150 students, and the construction of a borehole at the Tapoga health center, increasing access to clean water for the nearly 7,000 patients the center serves annually, as well as the full population of the village. 🔨🚰 As this activity was implemented by the military, it helped restore the image of the government in the people's eyes while also directly addressing some of their most urgent needs quickly. Projects like these have given the FAB a long-term platform for collaboration and coordination directly with civilian populations, helping to stop the spread of extremism in West Africa and debunk false narratives that armed groups spread.

In northern Benin, security and stability starts with trust. 🤝 As one part of #OperationMirador — a major military initiative to combat jihadist violence and extremist threats — the Beninese Army (FAB) is bringing free medical care directly to communities, strengthening the bond between civilians and those working to protect them. With support from Spirit of America and our implementing partner @StratStability, military medical teams are delivering care, equipment, and essential medicines to families who otherwise have limited access to healthcare options. 🩺💊 Colonel Tassou Abdou Wassiou, who coordinates the operation’s civil-military efforts for the FAB, underscored that medical outreach efforts like this are about more than healthcare — they’re a critical part of a broader strategy to build trust, reinforce security, and open channels for dialogue and information-sharing that help create conditions for lasting stability in the region. Spirit of America is adapting and extending efforts like this that leverage American expertise to combat terrorist threats around Africa and the world.