US-Nigeria Relations Hit a New Low

 The International Crisis Group published on 7 November 2025 an analysis titled "Why Is President Trump Threatening a Humanitarian Intervention in Nigeria?" by Nnamdi Obasi, the Crisis Group's senior adviser for Nigeria.  

The author reviews the background of President Trump's threat to engage militarily in Nigeria to protect Christians and describes the current situation in the country.  He points out that the US-Nigerian rift has brought bilateral ties to their lowest point since the 1970s, when the two countries were at odds on how to end apartheid in South Africa.

Why Is Trump Threatening Nigeria?

 The BBC published on 6 November 2025 an article titled "Are Christians Being Persecuted in Nigeria as Trump Claims?" by Olaronke Alo, Chiamaka Enendu, and Ijeoma Ndukwe.

President Trump's claim that Nigeria, which is about equally divided between Muslims and Christians, is persecuting Christians apparently stems from attacks in northern Nigeria by the jihadi organization Boko Haram that began in 2009.  The BBC looks at the numbers killed over the years and concludes Boko Haram probably has killed more Muslims than Christians.  In any event, the government of Nigeria strongly opposes Boko Haram.  

How Bad Is the Humanitarian Situation in Northern Ethiopia?

Ethiopia Insight published on 11 August 2022 a commentary titled "Ethiopian Officials Admit Using a Biafra-like Siege to Starve Tigray" by Jan Nyssen, Ghent University in Belgium. 

The author argues that it was the policy of the Ethiopian central government to starve into submission the population of Tigray Region.  

The UNOCHA published on 5 August 2022 its "Situation Report for Ethiopia." It suggests the food security situation in Tigray Region has improved somewhat compared to the report cited above.  It also notes the situation in Afar Region is dire and other parts of Ethiopia are experiencing significant food security problems.

Fifty Years of Nigeria-China Relations

 The Conversation published on 13 April 2021 an analysis titled "Fifty Years, Five Problems - and How Nigeria Can Work with China in Future" by Abdul-Gafar Tobi Oshodi, Lagos State University, and Ufo Okeke Uzodike, Durban University of Technology.

The authors conclude that 50 years of Nigeria-China relations has been a bitter-sweet mixture.  China can continue to play an important role in Nigeria's development but Abuja must urgently address the negative side of the relationship.