The United States and Nigeria have acknowledged continuing challenges in protecting Christian communities and resettling internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The issues topped discussions at the second session of the U.S.-Nigeria Joint Working Group (JWG), held in Washington on August 12, with U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker hosting a Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The meeting is aimed at addressing Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern.
The meeting also reviewed Nigeria’s prosecution of Boko Haram and Islamic State-West Africa (ISIS-WA) suspects, efforts to combat terrorism financing and cooperation between the two countries’ security institutions.
According to a Media Note issued by the U.S. State Department on Thursday, the talks identified “continuing challenges,” including reports of civilian fatalities and gaps in transparency surrounding humanitarian expenditure.
The United States said discussions focused on three priority areas: protecting Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, strengthening judicial and security institutions to ensure perpetrators of violence are held accountable, and expanding military-to-military cooperation. History
The two sides reviewed progress in returning IDPs to their ancestral communities, counterterrorism prosecutions and efforts to disrupt the financing of terrorism.
While Washington acknowledged steps taken by Nigeria, it stressed that significant work remains, particularly on the plight of displaced Nigerians.
The State Department said Nigeria had reported the prosecution of hundreds of Boko Haram and ISIS-WA suspects, expansion of judicial capacity and the recruitment and training of 50,000 additional police officers.
Nigeria and the United States also agreed to continue cooperation in areas, including terrorism financing, biometric information sharing to support accountability efforts and law enforcement capacity building.
The cooperation will involve the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and Bureau of Counterterrorism.
The emphasis on Christian communities is significant given the continuing international scrutiny of violence in Nigeria, particularly attacks affecting communities in the Middle Belt. The United States has made protection of vulnerable religious communities a central element of its engagement with Abuja over the issue.
The two governments are examining whether security and judicial institutions have the capacity to investigate attacks, prosecute perpetrators and provide accountability for victims.
The State Department said both sides recognised that more work was required to support IDPs.
Military cooperation was not concluded with the Washington meeting. Discussions on military-to-military cooperation continued at the Pentagon on Thursday.
Hooker also held a separate meeting with Ribadu, during which they discussed bilateral priorities and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to working with Nigeria to protect Christian communities and deepen security cooperation.
While Washington acknowledged prosecutions, increased judicial capacity and the recruitment of thousands of police officers, it also pointed to civilian deaths, unresolved displacement and humanitarian transparency as areas requiring further action.
