Foreign Affairs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stepped in to sort out diplomatic issues around the Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft seized by the government of Burkina Faso. Recall that the Confederation of Sahel States, AES, had in a statement signed by Assimi Goita, the Mali junta leader, alleged that the NAF plane entered the airspace of Burkina Faso without clearance, …

The United States House Appropriations Committee has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling religious persecution worldwide — with a specific emphasis on Nigeria — declaring that America “will not look away as innocent lives are stolen.” The committee stated this in a message posted on its official X account on Wednesday, stressing that religious freedom remains a key priority in its …

The United States government has pledged to take action to protect religious freedom in Nigeria. The stance was highlighted on Wednesday by the House Committee on Appropriations through its official X handle, commenting on a post by Congressman Riley Moore, who visited Benue State to meet Christians in an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp affected by horrific violence. While in …

France helped the authorities in Benin thwart a coup attempt at the weekend, an aide to President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday, revealing a French role in a regional effort that foiled the latest bid to stage a putsch in West Africa. Macron led a “coordination effort” by speaking with key regional leaders, the aide, asking not to be named, …

Benin Republic is the latest African country to experience a coup. Here is a look at other military takeovers. Benin has joined a growing list of African countries where military officers have seized power since 2020. In a familiar scene across West Africa, a group of soldiers appeared on Benin ’s state TV on Sunday announcing the removal of President …

Burkina Faso has released 11 Nigerian military officers detained after their Air Force transport aircraft made what the authorities described as an unauthorised landing in the country, officials confirmed on Tuesday. Business Insider reports that the officers were allowed to return home after Burkinabè authorities completed preliminary checks, conducted amid suspicions of their involvement in the Benin coup rescue. The …

The government of Burkina Faso says an aircraft carrying 11 Nigerian soldiers had violated its airspace. In a statement signed by Assimi Goita, the junta leader, the Burkinabe government said an aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) was forced to land on Monday in Bobo Dioulasso, following an “emergency situation in flight” while it was operating in the …

Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Dr. Sam Amadi, has said that the recent fact-finding mission conducted in Nigeria by 4 United States congressional delegation indicates a lack of confidence in the Nigerian government’s official accounts of insecurity and religious freedom issues. Speaking on Arise News, Amadi said the visit, which includes engagements with victims, religious …

A member of the United States House of Representatives, Riley Moore, has spoken about his recent visit to Nigeria as part of a U.S. Congressional delegation on a fact-finding mission to the country. In a statement posted on X on Monday, Moore said the discussions centred on terrorism in the North-East and the persistent killings in the Middle Belt, describing …

Benin’s president said on Sunday that the “situation is completely under control” in his country after the government thwarted an attempted coup thanks to loyalist soldiers. A group of soldiers announced earlier in the day on state television that they had ousted President Patrice Talon. That sparked a swift response from loyal army forces, air strikes from neighbouring Nigeria and …