FBI Agents in Abidjan Investigating Alleged Hezbollah Financing Network in Côte d’Ivoire

ABIDJAN, May 27, 2025 (Cameroon Concord / Jeune Afrique) – A team of FBI agents has arrived in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, as part of a high-level investigation into suspected Hezbollah financing networks involving Lebanese business figures operating in the West African nation.

According to security sources familiar with the matter, the probe—launched during the week of May 19—is being conducted jointly by Ivorian intelligence services and the regional FBI office housed at the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan.

The investigation targets financial circuits estimated at several million euros, believed to have been used to channel funds from local business operations toward Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite political and militant group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States.

Focus on Lebanese Business Networks

The inquiry centers on Lebanese-owned enterprises—some long-established in Côte d’Ivoire's commercial hubs—that may be operating as financial fronts for the group. Côte d’Ivoire has a significant Lebanese diaspora community, many of whom are deeply embedded in the country's trade and construction sectors.

While no official statement has yet been released by Ivorian or U.S. authorities, sources told Jeune Afrique that the FBI’s presence indicates the seriousness of the allegations and the potential international ramifications.

Strategic Concerns in West Africa

This move comes amid growing concerns from Washington over the use of West Africa as a soft corridor for financing global extremist organizations. In recent years, U.S. intelligence has flagged similar Hezbollah-linked activities in Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, raising the alarm over dual-use businesses that operate legally but fund illicit activities.

“This is not just about Côte d’Ivoire — it’s part of a broader U.S. effort to disrupt terrorist financing in Africa,” said a counterterrorism expert in Dakar.

Implications for the Region

The investigation could trigger broader financial audits, asset seizures, or diplomatic consequences, especially if links to international money laundering or sanctions violations are proven.

Will Côte d’Ivoire cooperate fully with the FBI inquiry? Could this lead to arrests or business closures? Is West Africa becoming a strategic base for global terror financing — and what can regional governments do to respond?