Germany's Scholz says his country, EU to help boost West Africa security

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz addresses the press with Ghana's president Nana Akufo-Addo (not pictured) during a three-day visit to West Africa, in Accra, Ghana October 31, 2023. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko

ACCRA (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday said his country and the European Union as a whole were committed to boosting security in West Africa, and could provide training and equipment to support operations against a jihadist insurgency spreading through the region.

Speaking in Ghana on the last leg of his third trip to sub-Saharan Africa, Scholz said a recent string of coups in West African nations had stalled cooperation between countries and could play into the hands of militants.