U.S. Representative Nancy Mace publicly condemned the administration’s foreign policy on religious freedom this Thursday. In a social media post, Mace asserted, “Nigeria has become one of the deadliest countries in the world for Christians.”
Her criticism is aimed directly at the decision to delist Nigeria from the “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) list. This designation is reserved for nations found to have committed severe violations of religious liberty. The removal reignites controversy over the Nigeria CPC status.
Disagreement Over Nigeria CPC Status
Mace drew a sharp contrast between the current and former administrations. She praised President Donald Trump’s approach to religious liberty.
She also signaled support for his goal to revisit the designation.
“Meanwhile, President Biden removed Nigeria from the Country of Particular Concern list,” Mace wrote. She followed up, stating, “President Trump is working to reverse those decisions.”
Trump’s Previous Actions and Threats
The congresswoman’s comments echo statements from President Trump last month. Trump claimed Christianity faces an “existential threat” in Nigeria from radical groups.
On his social media platform, Trump previously stated that “thousands of Christians are being killed.”
He noted that he had designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” during his term. He also revealed that he had ordered the Department of Defense to draft “options for possible military measures” against terrorist groups there.
International and Nigerian Reaction
Those specific remarks drew criticism. The Nigerian government strongly dismissed the allegations’ severity.
Officials stated that the country guarantees freedom of religion. They also insisted they actively protect the rights of all faiths.
Furthermore, Trump’s threat of military action raised concerns among other global powers. They urged Washington to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty.
A Timeline of the Controversy
This is the second time in five years Nigeria has been at the center of this specific controversy.
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December 2020: The Trump administration first added Nigeria to the CPC list. The action cited systematic violations of religious freedom.
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November 2021: The current administration removed Nigeria from the list.
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