External Relations

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is canceling humanitarian aid programs it previously identified as lifesaving, according to an internal State Department email obtained by The Atlantic, a move that could sharply reduce U.S. assistance to vulnerable populations abroad. The internal message, made public by The Atlantic on Tuesday, says the new round of cuts will reportedly end all U.S. humanitarian funding in seven African countries. The email characterizes the affected programs as lifesaving before notifying colleagues…

U.S. House Committees Urge Action on Religious Persecution in Nigeria U.S. House committees investigating the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria have formally submitted their findings to President Donald Trump. The report proposes a roadmap for curbing religious violence, enforcing accountability, and bolstering security cooperation between Washington and Abuja. The inquiry was ignited by Trump's decision to redesignate Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC) due to reports of rampant religious…

The World Health Organization announced that Libya has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, a milestone that clears the country of a disease long linked to poverty and limited access to hygiene and eye care. The validation makes Libya the 28th country worldwide and the eighth in its region to reach this specific target for trachoma, the WHO said. Trachoma is an infectious eye disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It spreads through contact with infected eye discharge on hands, clothing or by…

IMF Conditions Leave President Chapo Facing Political Costs and Economic Uncertainty President Daniel Chapo's bid to secure a new International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan — a linchpin he hoped would catalyze foreign investment and stabilise the country's ailing economy — has stalled after the IMF board set strict preconditions. The fund has demanded major fiscal reforms and a devaluation of the local currency as prerequisites for any agreement, a package that analysts say will be politically fraught for Chapo's ruling Frelimo…

Ghana to Propose UN Resolution Declaring Slave Trade as Crime Against Humanity President John Mahama has announced that Ghana will submit a resolution to the United Nations General Assembly designating the African slave trade as "the most serious crime against humanity." This bold move comes at a pivotal time, as discussions surrounding historical injustices and reparations gain momentum on the international stage. Speaking at the conclusion of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Mahama emphasized that the UN…

US Imposes Sanctions on Nigerian Individuals Linked to Terrorism and Cybercrime The United States has taken a decisive step to combat terrorism and cybercrime by imposing sanctions on eight Nigerian individuals allegedly connected to Boko Haram and ISIL. This announcement was made on February 10 by the U.S. Department of the Treasury through its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). As part of these sanctions, the individuals have been added to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List. This…

Criticism Mounts Over Hepatitis B Vaccine Study in Guinea-Bissau A now-halted plan to test various hepatitis B vaccine schedules on newborns in Guinea-Bissau has drawn strong criticism from the World Health Organization (WHO), which labeled the study "unethical." The U.S. health department, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., had funded a trial involving 14,000 babies. This controversial study aimed to compare two groups: one received the proven birth-dose vaccine immediately, while the other was scheduled to receive the shot…

China Responds to US Lawmakers’ Allegations of Illegal Mining in Nigeria The Chinese government has vehemently rejected allegations made by five US lawmakers claiming that it sponsored illegal mining activities in Nigeria and provided financial support to militias for protection. The embassy in Nigeria characterized the accusations as baseless and unfounded. In a statement, the Chinese embassy expressed dissatisfaction with what it termed as false claims, underscoring that Chinese nationals are required to adhere to…

Nigerians Identified Among Russian Forces in Ukraine Conflict Ukrainian military intelligence has reported the identification of two Nigerian nationals who died while fighting for Russian forces in the ongoing conflict. According to a statement released by the Ukrainian military, the bodies were recovered in the Luhansk region of Eastern Ukraine, a critical frontline area. The Ukrainians assert that the men were allegedly recruited in mid-2025, indicating a troubling trend of foreign fighters being drawn into the…

US Troops to Train Nigerian Military Amid Islamist Threats The United States is set to deploy approximately 200 troops to Nigeria as part of a strategic initiative to bolster the Nigerian military's efforts in combating the growing menace of Islamist militants. This move marks the first confirmed US ground presence in Nigeria since the controversial Christmas Day airstrikes ordered by former President Donald Trump. Training Deployment Details The troops are expected to arrive within weeks and will focus on providing…