While President Trump Designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern, Other Countries Need to Be Called Out as Religious Freedom Violators as Well

Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is concerned that the U.S. Department of State has yet to release its annual report on International Religious Freedom (IRF) and make the associated designations that were due in 2025. While President Donald J. Trump designated Nigeria as a country of particular concern (CPC), other foreign governments that perpetrate or tolerate particularly severe violations of religious freedom have gone undesignated. With the announcement by Mark Walker that he will assume a newly created position of Principal Advisor for Global Religious Freedom at the State Department, USCIRF is hopeful that the IRF report and the associated designations will take place within the coming days signaling to these bad actors that the United States continues to prioritize freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). 

“USCIRF looks forward to working with Mark Walker in the new role and also reiterates its support of President Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a CPC,” said USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler. “Now is the time to designate other countries or entities of particular concern to protect all people of faith who are being persecuted.  When America speaks and acts, others listen.  President Trump has a wonderful opportunity to not just make a difference for people of faith in Nigeria, but in other countries, as well.  USCIRF calls upon him to do so as soon as possible.” 

Before the end of 2024, the Biden Administration also failed to make its annual designations; thereby causing the 2023 designations to expire on December 31, 2025.  The IRF Act (IRFA) specifies that fifteen presidential actions can be applied post designation, unless they are waived for the national interest of the United States or if the waiver may support efforts to advance religious freedom. Those actions have now expired leaving countries unpunished for their repressive actions. 

“While the Trump Administration has charted a new course with the Principal Advisor for Global Religious Freedom position, it has also now followed in the footsteps of the Biden Administration when it failed last year to recognize violators of religious freedom through the CPC, EPC, and SWL mechanisms,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Asif Mahmood.  “The fact that President Trump designated Nigeria as a CPC does not make up for the fact that horrendous violations of this right by countries like China, India, Iran, Pakistan, North Korea, Russia, and Saudi Arabia have now been formally ignored. USCIRF is hopeful the designations will come soon as the lives of people of faith around the world may depend upon it.”    

The full list of CPC, SWL, and EPC recommendations are made in USCIRF’s 2025 Annual Report. All previous USCIRF annual reports, including the latest version, can be found here. 

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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 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]. 

Youth play a crucial role in promoting religious freedom in Africa by advocating for greater religious literacy, inclusivity, and understanding. In East Africa, young people face challenges to religious freedom. The Youth Tolerance Committee (YTC), a non-governmental organization based in Kenya and Tanzania, addresses these challenges head-on across the region, with the fundamental goal that communities and government respect all religions or beliefs and hear every voice.   

On today’s episode of the USCIRF Spotlight Podcast, Commissioner Steve Schneck speaks with YTC leaders to explore the religious dynamics affecting Kenyans and other East Africans, the vital role youth play in advancing religious freedom, and concrete opportunities for action to address these issues.