Oct 1, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USCIRF Releases New Report about Religious Tensions and Fulani Communities in West and Central Africa
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report on religious tensions and Fulani communities in west and central Africa:
West and Central Africa Factsheet – This factsheet explores the role that religion plays in escalating violence committed by and against Fulani communities in west and central Africa. Predominantly Muslim and historically associated with cattle herding and livestock rearing, Fulani communities – one of the largest ethnic groups in the world – stretch across the African continent from Senegal to Sudan and have been both the victims and perpetrators of violence against civilians in many countries in recent years. Although the extent to which religious ideology contributes to driving this violence remains a subject of debate, the trend of increasing violence by and against Fulani groups is clearly aggravating religious tensions in countries such as Nigeria and the Central African Republic.
In its 2020 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S State Department designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for its ongoing, systematic, and egregious religious freedom violations. USCIRF also recommended that the State Department place the Central African Republic on its Special Watch List (SWL).
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on threats to religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].
Jun 18, 2025
USCIRF Reiterates Call for CPC Designation for Nigeria
Weekend Attack on Catholic Mission Exacerbates the Religious Freedom Crisis in Africa’s Largest Country
Washington D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) reiterates its call for the U.S. Department of State to designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) in light of this weekend’s attack that killed at least 100 men, women, and children, many of whom were internally-displaced persons (IDPs) being sheltered in a Catholic mission in Yelwata in Benue State. The Catholic Church and organizations in Nigeria have raised serious religious freedom concerns over these violent attacks.
“The abhorrent violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and the systematic, ongoing, and egregious attacks throughout Nigeria against Christians and Muslims are indications that government prevention efforts are failing and not protecting vulnerable religious communities,” said Chair Vicky Hartzler. “U.S. government foreign assistance to Nigeria should efficiently and effectively support efforts to protect religious freedom.”
This weekend’s attack is a continuation of the daunting violence Christian farmers have endured over the past three months in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria, intensifying the conflict between Muslim Fulani herders and Christian farmers. The ongoing attacks further exacerbate religious tensions and stoke fear that prevents Nigerians of faith from exercising their freedom of religion or belief. Attackers often target houses of worship, including kidnapping religious leaders with impunity.
“Further efforts are needed to reduce violence and preserve freedom of religion or belief for all Nigerians,” said Commissioner Mohamed Elsanousi. “The U.S. government should use foreign assistance to address conflict resolution and enhance security sector training so vulnerable religious communities can be better protected.”
USCIRF continues to call upon the Department of State to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern for its systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations. In May 2025, USCIRF held a hearing on religious freedom conditions in Nigeria.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected]
Jul 10
Jul 10th 10:30am
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing
Freedom of Religion or Belief in Russia
Thursday, July 10, 2025
10:30AM – 12:00PM EST
Register Here
Please join the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for a virtual hearing on Russia.
The Russian Federation remains a particularly severe violator of religious freedom. Human rights organizations have identified hundreds of prisoners in Russian custody unjustly imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). The Russian government uses vague, problematic laws to criminalize the activities of several religious groups, punish individuals in ways that violate their FoRB rights, and target human rights activists documenting FoRB violations. In the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, Russian military forces and de facto authorities have banned religious groups, expropriated or destroyed houses of worship, and abducted, imprisoned, and killed religious leaders. In its 2025 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate Russia as a Country of Particular Concern for particularly severe violations of religious freedom.
Witnesses will discuss religious freedom conditions in Russia and Russian-occupied Ukraine. They will also share recommendations for the U.S. government to support FoRB in Russia.
Opening Remarks
- Vicky Hartzler, USCIRF Chair
- Asif Mahmood, USCIRF Vice Chair
Panel
- Willy Fautré, Director and Co-Founder, Human Rights Without Frontiers
- Jarrod Lopes, Regional Director of Communications, World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses
- Dan Storyev, English Managing Editor, OVD-Info
- Halyna Coynash, Journalist, Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group
This hearing is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. The video recording of the hearing will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions or to schedule an interview, please email [email protected].