Trump Reinstates “Country of Particular Concern” Tag on Nigeria Over Alleged Anti-Christian Genocide
Washington, D.C. — United States President Donald Trump has once again designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), citing the “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians” by radical Islamist groups.
The move, announced on Friday via President Trump’s Truth Social platform, renews a controversial listing that carries potential for US sanctions and diplomatic fallout. The announcement comes just three months after Washington imposed tough restrictions that downgraded most Nigerian travel visas to single-entry, three-month validity.
📰 President Trump’s Statement
President Trump stated that Nigeria is facing an “existential threat” to its Christian population.
> “Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” the US President wrote. “I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern.’ But that is the least of it. When Christians, or any such group, are slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 worldwide), something must be done!”
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He directed Congressman Riley Moore and Chairman Tom Cole of the House Appropriations Committee to immediately investigate the alleged killings and report back to him.
🔄 Reversal of Biden-Era Policy
This action revives a diplomatic storm first sparked in December 2020 when the Trump administration initially applied the CPC designation under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).
* 2021 Reversal: The listing was later reversed in November 2021 by the subsequent administration of former President Joe Biden. At the time, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken argued that while Nigeria faced severe security challenges, the Nigerian government was not “directly engaged” in religious persecution.
* Current Implication: By reintroducing the CPC tag, the Trump administration asserts that the situation has worsened and that the Federal Government of Nigeria has failed to act decisively to stop the violence targeting Christians and other religious minorities.
🏛️ Pressure from US Lawmakers
The designation follows sustained pressure from Republican lawmakers and evangelical organizations.
* Legislative Action: In September 2025, Republican Senator Ted Cruz introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 (S.2747), seeking to formally mandate the CPC reinstatement and impose sanctions on culpable government officials.
* Alleged Statistics: Proponents of the bill, co-sponsored by five Republican senators, allege that more than 52,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria since 2009, and over 20,000 churches and Christian institutions have been destroyed or attacked by groups like Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Fulani militants.
⚖️ Understanding the CPC Designation
According to the US Department of State, the CPC designation is applied to nations that engage in or tolerate “particularly severe violations of religious freedom.” This can include:
* Torture.
* Prolonged detention.
* Enforced disappearance, or
* Denial of life and liberty on religious grounds.
The label grants the US President authority to impose or waive punitive measures, including sanctions, diplomatic isolation, or withdrawal of aid. Current countries also listed include China, Iran, Russia, North Korea, and Saudi Arabia.
Visa Policy Twist Deepens Concern
The timing of the CPC designation closely follows a recent revision of the US visa policy toward Nigerian citizens:
* New Policy: Most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas were downgraded to single-entry, three-month validity, a sharp contrast to the previous two-year multiple-entry regime.
* Official Reason: The US Embassy in Abuja explained the measure as part of a global visa reciprocity process aimed at aligning visa benefits with how other nations treat American citizens.
* Diplomatic Concern: The imposition of both visa restrictions and the CPC designation has fueled speculation of a broader diplomatic downgrade and increased scrutiny on Nigeria-US relations.
🗣️ Mixed Reactions in Nigeria
The decision has elicited divided reactions across Nigeria:
* Security Concerns: A former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, warned that the CPC redesignation could have “serious implications for the nation’s counterterrorism operations,” potentially disrupting Nigeria’s ability to acquire sophisticated arms from the US needed to combat terrorism.
* Call for Broader Focus: Archbishop Osazee Williams, International Secretary of the Ecumenical Synods of Bishops, cautioned against framing the issue purely as a “Christian genocide,” stating that “During the Boko Haram crisis, Muslims were also victims… The declaration should be about insecurity and loss of life generally, not just about religion.”
* Government Stance: A senior aide at the State House indicated that the Federal Government would use “all diplomatic instruments and avenues” to address the issue, expressing confidence that Nigeria would “survive this phase.”
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