A newly introduced bill in the United States House of Representatives is calling on the Secretary of State to partner with Nigeria in addressing the security implications of illegal Chinese mining operations, which lawmakers allege are fueling militia violence in the country.
The Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 was tabled on Tuesday by five Republican lawmakers: Chris Smith, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga. The sponsors claim that certain Chinese mining firms operating in Nigeria are paying protection money to Fulani militias, thereby exacerbating local insecurity.
Under the proposed legislation, the U.S. Secretary of State would be tasked with providing technical assistance to Nigeria to help reduce and ultimately eliminate militia-related violence. This includes support for disarmament initiatives and enhanced counter-terrorism cooperation. The bill also encourages collaboration with international partners—including France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom—to advance religious freedom and peacebuilding efforts.
“The Secretary of State should work with the Government of Nigeria to counteract the hostile foreign exploitation of Chinese illegal mining operations and their destabilizing practice of paying protection money to Fulani militias,” the bill states.
In addition, the legislation directs the Secretary of State to assess whether specific Fulani-ethnic militias should be designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
The bill cites a 2023 investigation by The Times, which reported that Chinese nationals in Nigeria's mining sector were indirectly funding militant groups in the northwest in exchange for access to mineral-rich areas. According to the report, some miners in Zamfara State acted as runners for armed groups, prompting concerns that “Beijing could be indirectly funding terror in Africa’s largest economy.”
Posts
0 Comments