The Digest:
Two United States Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill seeking targeted sanctions against former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and Fulani cattle breeders' associations over alleged religious persecution in Nigeria. The 'Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026', sponsored by Representatives Riley Moore and Chris Smith, proposes visa bans, asset freezes, and other penalties under the Global Magnitsky Act. The bill also seeks the designation of Fulani ethnic militias as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation. It relies on disputed data from Intersociety claiming 50,000 to 125,000 Christians killed between 2009 and 2025, figures which BBC and New York Times investigations found unverified. The bill must pass Congress and be signed by President Trump to become law.
Key Points:
- The proposed sanctions risk straining US-Nigeria diplomatic relations and stigmatizing specific individuals and ethnic associations.
- Targeted sanctions could affect Kwankwaso's political standing and international engagements.
- The individuals and groups named face reputational and material consequences, while Nigerian authorities confront renewed external pressure.
- The reliance on unverified data raises questions about the legislative basis for the proposed measures.
- The timing follows recent US-Nigeria security cooperation, creating a complex diplomatic juxtaposition.
Sources: Premium Times, US House of Representatives Bill HR 7457, BBC, The New York Times
