US Congress Divided Over Trumps Designation Of Nigeria As CPC

Lawmakers, religious leaders, United States Department officials, and witnesses were divided in their views as the United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa on Thursday held an open hearing on President Donald Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged Christian genocide.

Following the redesignation, the President threatened that the US military would enter Nigeria “guns-a-blazing to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”

The Chris Smith-led committee had convened the hearing to review the scope of religious persecution in Nigeria, potential policy responses, including targeted sanctions, humanitarian assistance, and collaboration with Nigerian authorities to prevent further violence.

The first set of panellists at the hearing held at Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building and streamed live online were Senior Bureau Official of the Bureau of African Affairs, Jonathan Pratt, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, Jacob McGee, who faced numerous questions posed by the lawmakers.

The second panel featured presentations by the Director of the Centre for Religious Freedom, Ms Nina Shea; Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi Catholic Diocese in Nigeria; and Ms Oge Onubogu of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

Setting the tone for the hearing, Chairman Chris Smith highlighted that 89 per cent of all Christians martyred worldwide are in Nigeria, with over 52,000 Christians slaughtered since 2009.

He accused militant Fulani herdsmen of committing acts of rape, kidnapping, and murder with “total impunity” from Nigerian officials.