- The U.S. and Nigeria have resumed high-level talks regarding Nigeria’s status as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ over religious freedom violations.
- Discussions focus on counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, protection of vulnerable groups, and the safeguarding of fundamental freedoms.
- Nigeria was designated a CPC due to ongoing severe violations, including attacks against religious communities and insufficient government response.
- Non-state actors like Boko Haram, ISWAP, Fulani militants, and others have contributed to widespread violence affecting Christians, Muslims, and traditionalists.
The discussions took place on August 12 during the second session of the U.S.-Nigeria Joint Working Group established to address the designation
The U.S. delegation was led by Under Secretary of State Allison Hooker, while Nigeria’s delegation was led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu
The U.S. State Department said the talks focused on counterterrorism <a href="https://usglobalxpress.com/vietnam-uganda-cooperation-awakening-potential-from-the-pearl-of-africa/” title=”Vietnam – Uganda cooperation: awakening potential from the “Pearl of Africa””>cooperation, intelligence sharing, security and the protection of vulnerable communities and fundamental freedoms
According to Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, the meeting focused on efforts to strengthen security and intelligence-sharing cooperation, protect vulnerable communities, particularly those at risk of religiously motivated violence, and address other areas of mutual interest
The designation has become an increasingly important issue in Washington-Abuja relations since US President Donald Trump designated Nigeria a CPC on October 31, 2025, under the International Religious Freedom Act
A CPC designation is reserved for governments that the U.S. determines have “engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom.”
Nigeria’s designation followed years of concerns over attacks on religious communities, particularly Christians, by terrorist and armed groups, as well as allegations that authorities have failed to adequately prevent violence or hold perpetrators accountable
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) says religious-freedom conditions in Nigeria remain “particularly severe.” It reports that non-state actors regularly kill, kidnap and attack Christians, Muslims and traditionalist believers, with schools, missions and houses of worship among the targets
The threats come from several groups and are not limited to a single conflict. In the northeast, Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have carried out attacks and kidnappings, while violence involving armed Fulani militants, bandit groups and other non-state actors has affected communities in the North-Central region and elsewhere
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USCIRF has also highlighted Nigeria’s blasphemy laws, noting that 12 northern states enforce such laws and that they have been used against people from different religious backgrounds
The commission has repeatedly criticised what it describes as the government’s inadequate response to religious-freedom violations and its failure to consistently hold perpetrators accountable
The renewed talks do not mean the CPC designation has been removed. Instead, the working group provides a mechanism for both governments to discuss the concerns behind it and measure Nigeria’s response
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Washington has acknowledged steps taken by Nigeria, including counterterrorism prosecutions and expanded security cooperation, while continuing to press for stronger protection of vulnerable communities and greater accountability
For Abuja, the talks offer an opportunity to demonstrate progress on religious freedom and security while avoiding further deterioration in relations with Washington
The latest session is part of an ongoing U.S.-Nigeria effort to determine whether Nigeria can address the concerns that led to one of Washington’s most significant religious-freedom designations against the country