President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged violations of religious freedom, signaling the possibility of future sanctions.
Trump made the declaration on Friday, claiming that Christians in Nigeria face severe persecution from extremist groups. The designation, while not an automatic sanction, opens the door for potential punitive measures, including the suspension of non-humanitarian aid.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” Trump stated in a social media post. “Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN.’”
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The Nigerian government, according to AP’s report, has strongly denied the accusations, insisting that the crisis affects both Christians and Muslims. Analysts also note that many victims of extremist attacks in northern Nigeria are Muslims living in areas where militant groups operate most frequently.
Trump said he would direct U.S. lawmakers to investigate the situation further and recommend an appropriate response. “The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!” he said.
Under the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act, the U.S. president can designate a nation as a “country of particular concern” based on recommendations from the State Department and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. The designation authorizes, but does not require, sanctions against the country in question.
The State Department’s latest religious freedom report was issued in 2024 under the Biden administration and covered incidents from 2023. Nigeria, which was added to the “country of particular concern” list in 2020, had its designation lifted in 2023, observers saw it as a diplomatic move to improve relations before Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit.
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Trump’s move has reignited debate in the United States, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas praised the decision, calling it “a critical step in holding accountable and changing the behavior of Nigerian officials.” Cruz has long pushed for congressional action against Nigeria, arguing that Christian communities are being targeted under “mass murder” campaigns.
“I am committed to working with the administration and my colleagues to advance my bill and implement these necessary measures,” Cruz said.
If sanctions are enacted, Nigeria could face one of the most serious diplomatic challenges with the United States in recent years, potentially affecting bilateral aid, trade, and security cooperation.
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