Houston Prepares for FIFA World Cup

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Africa-Related, Houston

Photo of the artwork ‘Fair Play’ by Mathieu JN Baptiste and various commissioned artists at Houston’s Hobby International Airport.

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The city of Houston, Texas, is an official host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. There are a total of seven matches scheduled at NRG Stadium (Houston Stadium) for the tournament between June 14 and July 4, 2026.

The matches include five group-stage games, a Round of 32 match, and a Round of 16 match. The city is also set to host a 39-day fan festival in East Downtown during the tournament period.

Countries like Germany, Curaçao, Portugal, The Netherlands will play some matches in Houston. With a population of about 2.3 million people, Houston is widely regarded as a convergence pot of global cultures in the United States of America. It is home to over 50,000 Nigerians.

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Photos by Africa-Related

'Astronaut's Delight' by Black Cassidy

'Apollo Helmet' by Nicky Davis

'Blue Jays' by Blanco

The popular saying, 'Don't mess with Texas'

Images and artworks at Houston Hobby Airport, George Bush International Airport and other parts of the city show a city ready to welcome visitors and host some exciting line ups.

Check out other host cities here.

#fifaworldcup

Photos by Africa-Related

For more stories told from an African perspective, follow us at africarelatedinc

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Joint Statement of the United States and African Union on the Launch of a Strategic Investment Working Group

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Joint Statement of the United States and African Union on the Launch of a Strategic Investment Working Group

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and AUC Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa. Photo: U.S State Department

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
January 28, 2026

The following joint statement was released by the Government of the United States of America and the African Union Commission on the occasion of today’s agreement to establish a Strategic Investment Working Group.

Begin text:

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and AUC Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf met today at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa to reaffirm the importance of the U.S.-Africa relationship through the African Union (AU).  Alongside their shared commitment to protecting peace and security on the Continent, they agreed that economic growth forms the foundation of a peaceful and prosperous Africa, and that the development of quality, trade-enabling infrastructure is a critical next step in advancing that growth, informed by the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and its flagship priorities, including the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) priority corridors, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

In this regard, the Government of the United States and the AUC have agreed to the establishment of a U.S.-AUC Strategic Infrastructure and Investment Working Group (SIWG), to promote and advance U.S.-Africa economic partnerships that create jobs, prosperity, and economic security both in America and across Africa.

The SIWG will serve as a platform for senior officials and technical experts across the U.S. government and AUC to identify and advance opportunities for U.S. private sector investment and engagement in AU-backed infrastructure projects and related initiatives that advance the shared strategic priorities of the United States and the AU, its member states, and Africa’s Regional Economic Communities – enabling trade and logistics infrastructure, as well as continent-wide digital transformation.

These investments will leverage AU convening authority and expertise alongside U.S. capital and innovative financing tools to develop critical minerals and commodities supply chains, transportation corridors, energy networks, and regulatory harmonization, as well as to increase two-way trade, secure digital infrastructure, and improve health security that will make Americans and Africans safer and more prosperous.

As the United States and Africa seek durable, profitable investments to drive economic goals in place of foreign assistance, the SIWG will provide a foundation for strategic economic cooperation that will grow and shape the relationship for years to come.

End text.

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INTERVIEW: Nigeria's Security Situation - Actors and Players

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By Africa-Related, New York

Stock Photo: Filip Andrejevic @fandrejevic

Video Courtesy of Channels News

“Inside Sources” host, Laolu Akande discusses Nigeria’s security situation with four global analysts - Mallam Baba Yusuf (Strategy Analyst), Ismail Omibinoh (Deputy Editor Sun Newspaper), Emmanuel Ogebe (Human Rights Lawyer)

Key Highlights

• Impunity: Chad has executed Boko Haram terrorists but Nigeria has not.

• America doesn’t need Nigeria’s resources. With $460 billion networth, Elon Musk alone can buy Nigeria with $200 Billion GDP and still be the world’s richest man.

• Tinubu appointed fugitive with case file in America for attacking congressional witnesses as ambassador who will be blocked

• America has conducted multiple covert ops to rescue its citizens in Nigeria because the state failed to rescue them

“It is not correct to say that only particular tribes are terrorists. Let us identify these people as criminals without profiling them.”

— Ismail Omibinoh

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Nigeria Killings: U.S Congressional Hearing on Alleged Genocide of Christians

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By Africa-Related, New York

Stock Photo: Louis Velazquez @angelvela

U.S Congressional Hearing on Alleged Genocide of Christians

“We are tired of counting our dead. We are tired of mass graves and burned sanctuaries. We are tired of condolence statements that cost nothing and change nothing.”

— CANAN USA

Video Courtesy of TVC News

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Nigerian American Clergy visit the U.S. Congress

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By Africa-Related, New York

Photo: Dawn McDonald @dpreacherdawn

MEDIA ADVISORY

Please find below:

1. A letter by a global coalition of religious freedom stakeholders to the National Assembly providing a pathway post-CPC designation of Nigeria by the U.S. 

2. A Capitol hill briefing by Nigerian American clergy on the recent developments. 

 A Capitol hill briefing by Nigerian American clergy on the recent developments:

Hill Briefing on Genocide against Christians in Nigeria 

Theme: Nigerian American Pastors speak on CPC Designation of Nigeria and House Res 860

Date: November 20, 2025

Time: 1:00 PM (EST) 

House Cannon Bldg.
Room 454
US Congress
Capitol Hill

Panelists:

Dr James Fadel, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigerian Americans (CANAN USA) who worked on the 2013 Boko Haram FTO designation

Emmanuel Ogebe, ESQ, Award-winning International human rights Advocate and Lead Campaigner for the 2013 FTO designation

Ex Mayor Mike Arnold - CEO of Arise Africa, filmmaker and humanitarian who’s documented the genocide 

Key note speaker: Pastor Charles Ikutiminu CrossPassion Ministries International presenting findings of his recent trip to Nigeria 

Dr William Devlin - Volunteer CEO of Widows and Orphans working in 21 conflict countries including Nigeria 

Event partners

- Widows and Orphans 

- CANAN USA

- Save Nigeria Group 

- Justice for Jos Project 

Gain insights from experts on persecution in Nigeria and the response of Nigerian Christians/Clergy in America to the CPC designation.

The briefing follows immediately after a congressional public hearing on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) Chairman Africa Subcommittee 

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Lenacapavir in Eswatini and Zambia: Global Health Through American Innovation

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By Africa-Related, New York

Lenacapavir arrives in Eswatini and Zambia: Global Health Progress Through American Innovation and Burden Sharing. Photo: Mufid Majnun @mufidpwt

PEPFAR Release
November 18, 2025

 Full Video

Today, the United States is announcing the delivery of the first doses of lenacapavir, an innovative drug produced by American company Gilead Sciences to help prevent the spread of HIV. The doses arriving in Eswatini and Zambia are part of a market-shaping initiative by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to rapidly bring lenacapavir to market in ten high-burden HIV countries.

First announced on September 4, 2025, this landmark partnership between the Department of State, Gilead Sciences, and the Global Fund to Fight HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria (“Global Fund”) is providing at least 2 million doses, at cost, to targeted populations in high-burden HIV countries. This catalytic investment is aimed at backstopping manufacturing capacity and stimulating local demand for this innovative medication.  

U.S. officials are on site today as the first lenacapavir doses are being delivered in Eswatini and Zambia. Given strong demand and progress in scaling manufacturing, we expect to surpass the 2 million dose commitment by the targeted delivery date in 2028.

Under the Trump Administration, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved lenacapavir on June 18, 2025 for the prevention of HIV and is now delivering the doses in high-burden countries following the partnership announced in September between the Department of State, Gilead Sciences, and the Global Fund — just five months after FDA approval, a new standard for global and developing world access to innovative therapies.

Lenacapavir is a twice-yearly injectable drug in which more than 99 percent of people in clinical trials remained HIV negative. The drug has the potential to be particularly helpful for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers as it safely protects them during and after pregnancy to prevent mother-to-child transmission. The Department expects lenacapavir to be an important tool in achieving the Administration’s goal of ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV during President Trump’s second term.

In our new America First Global Health Strategy, the Department of State is establishing a first-of-its-kind innovation fund to support American-led research, market-shaping and other dynamic advancements in global health.

“Through our America First Global Health Strategy, the Trump Administration is making targeted and high-impact investments in breakthrough health innovations like lenacapavir that will bend the curve of the HIV epidemic and help countries globally to break away from reliance on external health assistance,” said Jeremy Lewin, Senior Official for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs and Religious Freedom. “The United States is proud to champion this American biomedical achievement and, along with the Global Fund, to provide a catalytic investment to facilitate broad adoption globally.”

“The Global Fund is proud to see countries gaining first-hand experience with a product that represents a new era in HIV prevention. The real results will come from rapidly reaching individuals at high risk for new HIV acquisition and at scale. If communities are at the center, innovation turns into lasting progress, and that progress becomes sustainable,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund.

“The arrivals of the first doses of lenacapavir in Eswatini and Zambia mark an important milestone in HIV prevention and reflect our commitment to supporting communities with the greatest need. For the first time, a new HIV medicine is reaching communities in sub-Saharan Africa in the same year as its U.S. approval,” said Daniel O’Day, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Gilead Sciences.

Further information about this and other global health security initiatives are outlined in the America First Global Health Strategy.

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Should a state of emergency be declared in Nigeria?

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By melody-Esther soyemi - Africa-Related, Nigeria

A man carrying the Nigerian flag. Photo: Emmanuel Ikwuegbu @emmages

At this point, it hardly feels like a question. Calamities are mounting week after week in Nigeria. The West African giant is experiencing one of its darkest periods of insecurity in recent history.

Calamities are mounting week after week, mass kidnappings, church attacks, the assassination of senior military officers, yet the national response has been slow, quiet, and disturbingly understated. Nigerians are left wondering: what is the President saying? What are state governors and security operatives doing? Where is the leadership, the urgency, and the decisive action that the moment demands?

On Monday, November 17, 2025, armed ‘bandits’ stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS) in Maga, in the Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State a state in in North Eastern Nigeria. About 25 schoolgirls were abducted and the vice-principal, Malam Hassan Yakubu Makuku, was shot dead while trying to protect his students.

Security forces say a joint rescue operation involving the military, police, and local vigilantes is underway, combing forests and escape routes. But the horror remains: this is yet another Chibok-style tragedy. Another group of young girls torn from their classrooms, families plunged into fear, and a violent reminder that schools, the very places where the future of a nation is trained and shaped, are no longer safe. This is not just another abduction, it is a reminder of Chibok,. How many more “Chiboks” will Nigeria suffer before something truly shifts? The world is watchingg how very little has changed in Nigeria.

“Nigerians are not just grieving; they are tired of mourning without seeing change.”

A day after this incident, worshippers at a Christ Apostolic Church in the Eruku community of Kwara State - Central Nigeria - experienced a nightmare in real time on Tuesday evening, . Gunmen opened fire during a service that was being live-streamed online. Viewers across Nigeria watched in horror as shots rang out, people tried to hide behind the altar, attackers rounded up bodies, valuables. Several worshippers were shot, at least three people died, while others, including the pastor, were abducted.

One particular scene that was the most heartbreaking was when an old woman who could barely walk tried to hide behind the altar, it sparked an outrage and outcry that someone’s mother, grandmother or even a great grandmother was struggling for safety in the Church. How is one to process this thought? It raises the question of where can Nigerians actually feel secure, if even a house of worship - a space for peace, prayer, and refuge is now threatened.

The insecurity is not limited to civilians. Nigeria’s military forces have also suffered a devastating blow with the killing of Brigadier-General M. Uba at the hands of ISWAP militants. Reports suggest that his location may have been compromised shortly after a joint air and ground operation. His capture and execution by terrorists show that even high-ranking officers are not shielded from the worsening security breakdown. It’s also shows that a breached military has severe implications for national stability.

Weeks prior to these incidents U.S. President Donald Trump issued strong and controversial statements, claiming that Christianity in Nigeria is facing an “existential threat.” He accused “radical Islamists” of killing Christians and said he had instructed the U.S. Department of Defense to prepare for possible action should Nigeria fail to protect its citizens. He went as far as threatening military intervention and the suspension of U.S. aid, declaring on Truth Social that the U.S. may have to go into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” if the situation continues.

Investigative journalist Jude Bela explains the complex factors behind Nigeria’s security challenges

The Nigerian government pushed back, insisting that Nigeria is not a nation divided by religion and that the portrayal of genocidal targeting of Christians does not reflect the country’s complex reality. Many analysts have echoed this, arguing that while Christians have undoubtedly suffered violence  as have Muslims, the core drivers of instability in this case include terrorism, banditry, poverty, corruption, weak intelligence, and community conflicts, environmental changes; not a single religious agenda. Still, the very fact that a foreign leader is threatening intervention over Nigeria’s internal security crisis shows how badly the situation has deteriorated and how visible the failures of state response have become on the global stage.

Even American rapper Nicki Minaj raised global attention to the Christian persecution in Nigeria, calling for urgent international action during a U.S Mission to the United Nations event hosted by United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mike Waltz, on Tuesday, she stated that In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes and killed. Churches have been burned, families have been torn apart and entire communities live in fear constantly simply because of how they pray, stressing that the crisis demands urgent action.She insisted her position was not political or divisive. “I want to be clear, protecting Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides or dividing people. It is about uniting humanity.” 

So where does this leave Nigerians? Schools are no longer secure. Places of worship are coming under fire. Senior military officers are being hunted. Families are burying their loved ones while whole communities remain paralyzed by fear. Farmers have abandoned their farmlands. Yet policies remain slow, government statements vague, full of sympathy with concrete action limited. Nigerians are not just grieving; they are tired of mourning without seeing change.

This is why asking whether a state of emergency should be declared is not enough. One could argue that it should already have been declared. The country is facing a coordinated and escalating threat that demands more than routine security deployments or press statements. A nationwide emergency would only matter, however, if it comes with real reforms: stronger intelligence systems, better coordination, genuine investment in community security, and full transparency and accountability in how power and resources are used.

If not, a state of emergency risks becoming another symbolic gesture with no lasting impact. But without decisive action soon, Nigeria risks more kidnappings, more church and mosque massacres, more military losses  and possibly even the loss of control over its own security narrative; as foreign actors begin shaping the global response.

The question, therefore, is no longer “should” a state of emergency be declared but why it has not been declared already.

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Nicki Minaj Speaks on Persecution of Christians in Nigeria

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By Africa-Related, New York

"I would like to thank @POTUS for prioritizing this issue and for his leadership on the global stage in calling for urgent action to defend Christians in Nigeria." - @NICKIMINAJpic.twitter.com/gi8bLtF1Qt — @USUN November 18, 2025

TOPIC:        Persecution of Christians in Nigeria

BRIEFER:   U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz

WHEN:       Tuesday, November 18; 3:00 p.m. ET 

BACKGROUND: On Tuesday, November 18, Ambassador Mike Waltz, U.S. Representative to the United Nations, hosted an event alongside grammy-winning rapper Ms. Nicki Minaj, faith leaders, and other prominent figures to address the critical issue of protecting religious freedom and the rising violence against Christians, particularly in Nigeria.

The event was live-streamed, and the link shared through USUN's X account: https://x.com/USUN?lang=en

"I would like to thank @POTUS for prioritizing this issue and for his leadership on the global stage in calling for urgent action to defend Christians in Nigeria." - @NICKIMINAJ pic.twitter.com/gi8bLtF1Qt

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 18, 2025

Remarks at a U.S. Hosted Event on “Combatting Religious Violence and the Killing of Christians in Nigeria”

United States Mission to the United Nations
November 18, 2025

AMBASSADOR MIKE WALTZ: Oh my goodness. Thank you so much for everyone who has joined us today. And for a number of our ambassadors and delegates who have joined us, thank you for coming. To our faith leaders, survivors of some of these atrocities, and what I would call everyone here a friend of freedom, welcome to the United States Mission to the United Nations.

And today we speak of blood. We speak of the blood that still cries from Nigerian soil. This is deeply personal for me, as I know it is for Ms. Minaj and her pastor here, Peters Adonu, and others. I had the opportunity to serve in Nigeria in 2015, if you remember when then 300 little girls were kidnapped from their schools, ripped out of their homes and schools in the middle of the day, and in the middle of the night.

We sent a small team over there, and we trained – Nigeria’s equivalent of their Navy SEALs – to go get those girls back. It was righteous work. We didn’t get them all back, unfortunately, but we got some. Some will be lost forever. And if you remember the infamous save the girls campaign, that was 10 years ago. Folks, it’s still happening. It just happened yesterday. 25 little girls were ripped out of their school. I pray that we get them back. But what often happens is they’re sold into sex slavery. They’re forced to renounce their religion. They never see their homes or families again, and they literally disappear to the dark underbelly of extremism and sex slavery.

Look, 10 years later, the horror continues in the middle belt and in the north. Churches burn mothers, bury their children for the crime of singing Amazing Grace. Pastors have been beheaded. Pastors have been beheaded for preaching the Sermon on the Mountain, entire villages wake up to gunfire, because they dare to commit the crime, the crime of calling Jesus their Lord. People go to jail under blasphemy laws for simply wearing a cross. This is not random violence. This is genocide, wearing the mask of chaos.

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation and a vibrant mosaic of cultures and faiths, but it is under siege. And in the northern region, you have 12 Muslim majority states that are enforcing Sharia law and have enforced it since 1999. Jihadi groups like Boko Haram and the Fulani militias continue to unleash targeted violence. It is targeted. It is specific, on these Christian communities.

This year alone, the NGO, the nonprofit Open Doors, reports a very sharp rise in attacks. They’re reporting 80%, 80% of the violence against Christians worldwide is occurring in Nigeria. Thousands are displaced, are killed in faith based reprisals.

So weeks ago, a few weeks ago, the United States designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern for severe violations of religious freedom, spotlighting what can only be described as the government’s failure to curb these atrocities. And while Nigerian officials maintain that terrorism strikes all faiths indiscriminately, and they do. There is a body of evidence, and you are going to hear that from our experts today that paints a very grim picture of disproportionate suffering among Christians, where, again, families are torn apart. Clergy is repeatedly assassinated in entire congregations. Church congregations – you’re seeing, you see some of the images here – are driven into hiding.

Folks, we have an entire faith that is being erased, one bullet at a time, one torched Bible at a time. Yet, in the face of this evil one leader has refused to look away. President Trump has made the persecuted church his priority like no other president before him in American history. He was the first U.S. president to convene world leaders right here at the United Nations in 2019 to draw attention, draw the world’s attention to what is happening. He created the Religious Liberty Commission to fight for believers everywhere. And while Nigeria’s Christians cried out. He answered, and he has answered loudly. He has reminded the world that protecting Christians is not about politics. It is a moral duty.

So inspiration alone is not enough. We need voices that pierce the silence that we’ve heard from the international community, that humanizes the statistics that we keep hearing, and that demands accountability, and that’s why we’re here today to hear from a pastor that will dial in through our embassy in Nigeria, and we’re going to hear his first hand accounts of the suffering. We’re also going to hear from experts who have dedicated their lives to religious liberty.

I especially want to thank my friend Harris Faulkner, who, in addition to just being an amazing person, is also the daughter of a U.S. Army Colonel – so that makes her extra special in my heart – and she has spent much of her career protecting this most basic – folks this is the most basic of liberties: to worship as one sees fit.

But we are especially thrilled that we’re going to hear from an especially powerful voice, a fearless advocate whose passion for justice transcends borders, and she uses her voice to defend the voiceless. Hers are not empty words. They are a clarion call echoing the UN’s, the United Nations own Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which proclaims that, quote, everyone has the right to freedom of thought, to freedom of conscience and to freedom of religion. She steps onto this world stage, not as a celebrity, but as a witness. She uses and has used her influence to spotlight Nigeria’s persecuted church, reaching out to her 28 million followers, her Barbz, as I now have learned, and she uses this, and as she steps on this global stage to fund emergency relief and to demand action.

Nicki, I can’t tell you how much I admire you. You’re stepping up, you’re leaning into this issue. You’ve enjoyed amazing success, and you could be sitting back and just enjoying it. You could be just living the good life, but you’re willing to come here today and roll up your sleeves and let’s try to solve this. Let’s try to save these people. So everyone, please join me in welcoming a daughter of the Caribbean, a champion of the oppressed and a sister in Christ Nicki, Minaj.

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MS. NICKI MINAJ: Hello everyone. I must say, I am very nervous, so please – Well, thank you, Ambassador Waltz for this invitation. It is an honor to stand on this stage with you and the other distinguished speakers here today to shine a spotlight on the deadly threat faced by thousands of Christians in Nigeria.

I would like to thank President Trump for prioritizing this issue and for his leadership on the global stage and calling for urgent action to defend Christians in Nigeria to combat extremism and to bring a stop to violence against those who simply want to exercise their natural right to freedom of religion or belief.

I stand here as a proud New Yorker with a deep sense of gratitude that we live in a country where we can freely and safely worship God, regardless of one’s creed, background, or politic. No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion, like I recently stated on social media, and we don’t have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other. We’re way beyond thinking or expecting or assuming for you know, the person sitting next to you to have the exact same beliefs. We’re beyond that. That’s ridiculous, but that shouldn’t make one person feel less safe than anyone in any room.

Music has taken me around the globe. I have seen how people, no matter their language, culture, or religion, come alive when they hear a song that touches their soul. Religious Freedom means we all can sing our faith, regardless of who we are, where we live, and what we believe.

But today, faith is under attack in way too many places. In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes and killed. Churches have been burned, families have been torn apart, and entire communities live in fear constantly, simply because of how they pray.

Sadly, this problem is not only a growing problem in Nigeria, but also in so many other countries across the world, and it demands urgent action. And I want to be clear, protecting Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides or dividing people. It is about uniting humanity.

Nigeria is a beautiful nation with deep faith traditions and lots of beautiful Barbz that I can’t wait to see. When one’s church, mosque, or place of worship is destroyed. Everyone’s heart should break just a little bit, and the foundation of the United Nations, with its core mandate to ensure peace and security, should shake.

I am joined here today by peace builders, by faith leaders, by those who saw violence, saw rising intolerance, saw the threats clearly before us, and chose not to look the other way. I am inspired by their work to build interfaith ties, to see the humanity across the lines which might divide us, and to fight for security and liberty for all those who pray.

I look forward to our discussion today, and I hope it will encourage deepened solidarity for us to urgently work together to ensure every person can enjoy the right to believe, to worship, and to live in peace.

Barbz, I know you’re somewhere listening. I love you so very much. You have been the ultimate light in my life and career for so long. I appreciate you, and I want to make it very clear once again, that this isn’t about taking sides. This is about standing up in the face of injustice. It’s about what I’ve always done for my entire career, and I will continue to stand for that for the rest of my life. I will care if anyone anywhere is being persecuted for their beliefs.

Thank you.

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Politics In Film: Are Black Stories Going Extinct In America?

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By Africa-Related, New York

Over the decades, Black Public Media has invested over $17 million in films and other stories and helped nurture the careers of many acclaimed documentary directors and other creatives.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

 BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA MAKES URGENT GIVING TUESDAY PLEA

After losing $1.8 million in funding, national nonprofit asks the public to donate to ensure Black stories are never again subject to political whims

NEW YORK (November 18, 2025) — The Harlem-based national nonprofit Black Public Media, from which Congress snatched back $1.8 million of allocated federal funding last July, is making a pressing plea to the public for support this holiday season. The appeal is part of its grassroots plan to raise $9 million over the next two years from individual donors, as well as large contributions from foundations and corporations. BPM, which has funded popular documentary films and immersive media projects about the Black experience to the tune of $17 million since its founding in 1979, is asking people who care about the future of Black stories to make a donation by GivingTuesday (December 2). 

The proceeds raised will fuel BPM’s Black Stories Production Fund, launched in response to the federal government’s recent defunding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. CPB, which was the largest supporter of BPM, is now winding down its operations.

“Public media is for every American, and every American should be reflected in its programs and documentaries,” said BPM Executive Director Leslie Fields-Cruz. “For nearly 50 years, Black Public Media has worked to ensure that fact. This year, the public needs to take a stand to ensure that Black stories are never again subject to the whims of politics.”

BPM is asking the public to donate as little as $5 or as significant a contribution as they wish at: https://secure.everyaction.com/IkFxVSdjX0qpQkceW1r27g2. It also invites foundations and other funders to support the Black Stories Production Fund. The Fund will ensure that films like The Inquisitor, the Barbara Jordan documentary scheduled to premiere in January 2026;Chisholm ’72: Unbought & Unbossed, Ailey; Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters, Daughters of the Dust, I Am Not Your Negro, Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes, Mr. Soul, When Claude Got Shot and hundreds more are able to come to public media and beyond.

The group has nurtured the careers of generations of filmmakers and creatives who have unearthed and brought Black stories to television screens, movie theaters and personal devices across the U.S.

BPM also supports the next generation of creative technologists in emerging media (e.g., virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and other new technologies), and works to connect them to opportunities and equipment to shape impactful immersive projects.

To find out more about BPM, visit blackpublicmedia.org or follow it on social media at: @blackpublicmedia (IG, FB, TikTok and LinkedIn).

“Public media is for every American, and every American should be reflected in its programs and documentaries. ”

— Leslie Fields-Cruz - BPM Executive Director

ABOUT BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA:

Leslie Fields-Cruz BPM Executive Director. Photo credit Yekaterina Gyadu

Black Public Media supports the development of visionary content creators and distributes stories about the global Black experience to inspire a more equitable and inclusive future. For 45+ years, BPM has addressed the needs of unserved and underserved audiences. BPM-supported programs have won five Emmys, 10 Peabodys, five Anthem Awards, 14 Emmy nominations and an Oscar nomination. BPM continues to address historical, contemporary and systemic challenges that traditionally impede the development and distribution of Black stories.

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For media inquiry, contact:

Cheryl L. Duncan
Cheryl Duncan & Company, Inc.
cheryl@cdcprnews.com

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Press Conference by Nigerian-American Community Organizations on the U.S. Designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern

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By Africa-Related, New York

The Nigerian Center, Washington D.C

Written By Nigerian Center

*MEDIA ADVISORY*

JOINT VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE BY NIGERIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ON THE U.S. DESIGNATION OF NIGERIA AS A COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN

WHO:

The Nigerian Center, the Nigerian American Public Affairs Committee (NAPAC), the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, Americas (NIDOA), and the Nigerian Physicians Advocacy Group (NPAG).

WHAT:

A coalition of leading Nigerian American organizations will hold a joint virtual press conference to address the recent U.S. government designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by President Donald J. Trump.

The leaders will discuss the implications of this designation, its potential impact on Nigeria and the Nigerian American community, and present a united call for dialogue and collaboration. Together, they will advocate for a constructive approach that reinforces the historic friendship and strategic partnership between the United States and Nigeria. Speakers will offer a live question and answer session with journalists.

SPEAKERS:

• Gbenga Ogunjimi, Executive Director, Nigerian Center

• Susan Edionwe MD, FACS, DipABLM, President, Nigerian Physicians Advocacy Group (NPAG)

• Bukola Olaoye, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, Americas (NIDOA)

• Prince Maduka Nkuku, President, Nigerian American Public Affairs Committee (NAPAC)

• Dr. Malcolm Fabiyi, President,Governance Advancement Initiative for Nigeria (GAIN)
  
  

WHEN: Friday, November 14, 2025 | 11:00 AM EST

WHERE: Virtual (Zoom Login)

WHY: Following their joint statement, the organizations will outline recommendations for strengthening collaboration between U.S. and Nigerian policymakers, diaspora leaders, and civil society groups to ensure that the designation fosters a more secure, just, and prosperous Nigeria.

Please RSVP to Liz Voyles at liz@brassrc.com. This event is open to credentialed journalists only, and all remarks are on the record. An emailed RSVP is required for admission.

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About Coalition:

Nigerian Center
The Nigerian Center is a Washington, DC–based nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing immigrant justice, financial empowerment, and cultural visibility. Through legal services, advocacy, and education, the Center amplifies Nigerian and African immigrant voices and fosters systemic inclusion in American society.

Nigerian American Public Affairs Committee USA (NAPAC USA)
The Nigerian American Public Affairs Committee (NAPAC USA) is a national nonpartisan organization that promotes civic engagement, public policy advocacy,voter registration/education, and leadership development within the Nigerian American community. 

Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, Americas (NIDOA)
The Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, Americas (NIDOA) is the umbrella body for Nigerians living in North and South America. NIDOA mobilizes the Nigerian diaspora to contribute to national development, promote unity and collaboration among Nigerians abroad, and strengthen partnerships that advance Nigeria’s progress and global image.

Nigerian Physicians Advocacy Group (NPAG)
The Nigerian Physicians Advocacy Group (NPAG) is a 501(c)(4) affiliate of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas, created to advance good governance in Nigeria, the United States, and beyond. NPAG is a coalition of Nigerian-American medical professionals committed to advancing health equity, public policy, and community well-being, promoting collaboration between U.S. and Nigerian health institutions to improve access, quality, and outcomes.

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Ghana’s Hidden War

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By Beatrice ‘Bee’ Arthur
Accra, Ghana

Like most Ghanaians, I am deeply disturbed by the helicopter crash that occurred yesterday, claiming the lives of eight of our compatriots—including two sitting Ministers of State. It has mentally paralysed me. I can barely focus on my work, though creativity is usually my refuge. Instead, I find myself scrolling endlessly through news updates and social media, leaving comments of condolence that feel small against the weight of this grief. I cannot begin to imagine the pain their families are enduring.

Yesterday, 6th August 2025, marked the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—an unhealed scar on the conscience of humanity. I remembered the date, as I always do, and reflected on the horrors of war. Coincidentally, it is also a relative’s birthday, so I sent a birthday wish—then spent the rest of the morning hoping, as I do every year, that no country ever resorts to nuclear weapons again. Especially now, with the world teetering—amid ongoing conflicts involving the USA, Ukraine, Russia, and Israel.

And then, by midday, the news broke.
Eight lives lost in a helicopter crash.
It destabilised me.
I understood, viscerally, that warfare is not always waged with bombs.
Sometimes, the battlefield is the sky.
Sometimes, the damage is not explosive, but systemic.

Ghana is officially a peaceful country. We pride ourselves on our stability in a region often marred by conflict. But the truth is, Ghana is a war zone—not in the traditional sense, but in the silent, insidious, and internal sense.

We are a country at war with ourselves.

A nation where fatalism has become a coping mechanism, and “God’s Will” is too often used to absolve greed, negligence, and corruption.

But let us be clear:
Greed kills.
Corruption kills.
Complacency kills.
And when allowed to fester, these things become acts of war—acts of war against the land, against the people, against the future.

The deaths of Environment Minister Murtala Mohammed and Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah were not random. They were en route to Obuasi, ground zero in our long, losing battle with galamsey. They died in service, trying to reclaim dignity for a land being disembowelled for profit.

Our Defence Minister did not fall in battle
he fell in service,
en route to a battlefield shaped not by bullets,
but by greed.
A battlefield where the enemy digs quietly,
in daylight and darkness,
with excavators for guns
and mercury for blood.

The Environment Minister died, not because the skies were cruel, but because we have allowed our soil, our water, our trees, our lungs—to be desecrated for too long. Because we have normalised the abnormal: that gold is worth more than green, and profit more than people.

The absolute greed and insensitivity of those who engage in galamsey - and the complacency of some traditional leaders in areas where illegal mining thrives - necessitated their journey to Obuasi. It became their last.

President Mahama has since declared three days of national mourning. Flags will fly at half-mast. But will our moral compass rise?

The hands that hold the shovels and machines are not the only ones stained. Where are the regulators? The traditional leaders? The enforcers? The consciences? The system - this system - sent these men to their deaths. And if we don’t change it, it will send many more.

This is a moment not just for mourning, but for reckoning. Galamsey has killed them. And if we’re honest, it is killing all of us.

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By Beatrice Bee Arthur. Accra - Ghana.

Calling On Future Farmers!

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FAQ - Climate Smart Tomato Farming – Blended Training

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Certified short courses for farm managers, agricultural students, field supervisors, extension agents and field staff looking to gain industry needed skills and competencies.

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AAZE THOMAS ADABA, (OON, KSM, KSGG). Ohi Etohueyi of Ebiraland

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Obituary: Aaze Tom Adaba

AAZE THOMAS ADABA, (OON, KSM, KSGG).

Ohi Etohueyi of Ebiraland

1941-2025

...an undeniable legacy

FUNERAL PROGRAM
(W.A. Time)

Christian Wake/Night of Tribute:
Thursday, 6 March 2025
4:30 pm
Catholic Church of the Archangels, Durumi, Gaduwa Road, Abuja

Lying in State:
Friday, 7 March 2025
8:30 - 9:30 am
45 Constitution Avenue, off Democracy Crescent, Gaduwa Estate, Abuja

Funeral Mass: 
Friday, 7 March 2025
10:00 am
- Catholic Church of the Archangels, Durumi, Gaduwa Road, Abuja
- Christ The King Catholic Church, Okene. 

Interment: 
Friday, 7 March 2025
Immediately after Mass
Gudu Cemetery - Christian Section, Opposite Defence HMO, Apo, Abuja

#tomadabalegacy

Tributes | Life | Gallery | Stories

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KIDNAPPED In NIGERIA

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by oyiza adaba, New york

A SPECIAL REPORT

Deborah Sanni (RIP) was last seen in Area 1 on March 3, 2024. (Photo: Sanni Family)

On March 3, 2024, 29-year old Deborah Sanni, an Area 1 resident of Abuja, stepped out of their family home around 8:00 PM to pick some supplies from a nearby shop. Then the unthinkable happened.

"Every day I wake up with her thoughts on my mind. I sleep with her thoughts on my mind, because it's just like a dream - a nightmare." - Mrs. Matilda. Sanni

Her grieving, yet strong mother, Mrs. Matilda Sanni recalls the heart-wrenching incident, which powerfully explains why nowhere in Nigeria is truly safe from kidnappers - least of all the nation’s capital, Abuja. This unfortunate reality reflects the growing fears and concerns among Nigerians, as they grapple with the constant threat that looms over their daily lives.

In Deborah Sanni's case, her family paid a ransom on the same night, which her captors withdrew before dawn on March 4, 2024. Then they went silent. After a difficult week of searching, her family learned that her body had been found a week earlier and sent to a mortuary in another part of Abuja. This raises concerns about communication between the Nigerian Police, other security agencies, and hospitals.

As we close out our year in 2024, we take a moment to remember all the victims of kidnapping in Nigeria, along with their families who continue to suffer. It is a sobering experience to review these statistics that reflect the plight of individuals who, tragically, will not be spending the upcoming year with their loved ones. The emotional toll this takes on families and communities is profound and deserves our attention and compassion.

SBM IntelLIGENCE 2024 Report

Nigeria’s security crisis has become increasingly complex, with armed groups and non-state actors exploiting the state’s weakened influence. This includes Boko Haram’s resurgence in the Northeast, armed gangs in the Northcentral and Northwest, secessionist violence in the Southeast, and gang-related issues in the Southwest. Amid these diverse security threats, widespread kidnap for ransom has emerged as a common thread.

Grim Reaping: Economics of Nigeria’s Kidnap Industry – A 2024 Update

- SBM INTELLIGENCE -

kidnapping statistics: SBM Intel 2024 Report

FCT Abuja ranks 4th in the SBM Intel Report (Source: SBM Intel)

404 persons kidnapped in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital (Source: SBM Intel)

Mass abductions by States in Nigeria (Source: SBM Intel)

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Meet The U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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By Oyiza Adaba, New York

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A SPECIAL REPORT

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Today, we are set to meet with a small yet impactful agency within the U.S. Department of Defense that focuses on finding prisoners of war and those individuals who are currently classified as missing in action. This engagement opens up a significant question: what are the circumstances faced by POWs in your country, and in what ways can your country collaborate with or gain insights from the operations of the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) to address these issues more effectively?

Mr. Kelly K. McKeague, Director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) (Africa-Related)

This exclusive report sheds light on what actually happens to remains of POWs or prisoners of war, those considered MIA or missing in action. We spend time today with a little know agency in the US Department of Defense that does commendable work around the world in recovering missing American soldiers in global conflicts.

Mr. Kelly K. McKeague, Director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), spoke extensively at a press briefing organised by The Foreign Press center New York,  about America's efforts to investigate, recover, identify, return 81,000 missing persons from past conflicts as far back as World War One to the Korean War, Afghanistan which recorded less of those types of cases due to the United States effort in perfecting the effort in  recovery and bringing back such military personnels as soon as the situation occurs or with better immediacy when previous leave fought conflicts. 

Special Report by Oyiza Adaba on POWMIA Accounting Agency

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Did you know that the United States is one of a handful of countries that still maintains this practice of bringing back Prisoners of War?

From the dense jungles of Vietnam to the serene underwater landscapes off the picturesque coast of Eastern Europe, the work undertaken by the DPAA serves as a crucial tool of engagement for the United States with numerous nations around the globe. Identifying those who lost their lives in the battles of war is a task that is not taken lightly or approached with indifference. Often, news regarding the fate of family members who have been waiting in anticipation for their loved ones to return, only reaches the descendants, sometimes third or even fourth generation members, who have been handed down the painful oral tradition from one generation to the next.

Collision for a great cause: Mr. McKeague explains how science, history, service, diplomacy, a budget of 190 million dollars, missions in 45 nations and more than 100 worldwide partner institutions; collide as the Defense POW /MIA Accounting Agency. (Africa-Related)

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This report concludes with historian and award-winning documentary filmmaker Emeka Ed Keazor, who sheds light on his 2020 historical documentary “Company Yaya”. The piece follows the forgotten African soldiers of world war 2 who fought for Britain in WW2 in North Africa, Kenya, and as far away as Burma.

This story is deeply personal to me because my grandfather, Joseph A. Adaba, bravely fought with the RAF Regiment 2 during a significant historical conflict. He was fortunate to survive a tumultuous war that saw the recruitment of more than 1 million African troops, among which 126,000 hailed from Nigeria alone. Tragically, out of these brave men, 15,000 did not return home, leaving behind a legacy of sacrifice and courage that continues to resonate through our family and community. These numbers are just estimates

Oyiza Adaba

PHOTOS BY AFRICA-RELATED

Biden-Harris: Last-Minute Call To Protect Black Immigrants

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Photo credits: @thornbaires

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“The U.S. Is All In on Africa’s Future” – Now Is the Time to Deliver for Black Immigrant Communities

On December 17, 2024, the Nigerian Center joined Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and other leaders for a press conference on Capitol Hill, urging the Biden-Harris Administration to take urgent action to protect immigrant communities during the lame-duck session.

The press conference followed a letter to the administration, signed by Rep. Clarke and over 40 members of Congress, calling for executive actions to extend TPS, clear processing backlogs, and protect vulnerable communities. Nigerian Center Executive Director Gbenga Ogunjimi highlighted President Biden’s promise that “the U.S. is all in on Africa’s future” during his recent visit to the continent.

“Earlier this month, President Biden made a bold commitment to the future of U.S.-Africa relations during his visit to the continent. He declared, and I quote, ‘The U.S. is all in on Africa’s future.’ Today, we are here to hold this administration to that promise. Granting immigration protections would align with the U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa, affirming a commitment to human rights, economic opportunity, and global solidarity. Temporary Protected Status would offer a lifeline to vulnerable populations fleeing armed conflicts and humanitarian crises,” said Gbenga Ogunjimi.

Read the full press release [here] View the event photos [here]

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A statement on TNC Instagram account reads:

“Regardless of the outcome, we are proud of the relentless efforts and progress we've made with this administration and we look forward to continuing our advocacy with the incoming Trump administration. This campaign has been a two-year journey, and it has been a privilege to mobilize our community around a policy shift that once seemed unthinkable.”

If you or someone you know needs immigration assistance, please call The Nigerian Center immigration assistance hotline at 1-800-395-9272.

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Press Release - Coalition Urges Biden Administration to Grant TPS to Nigeria Before End of Term

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 19, 2024

Coalition Urges Biden Administration to Grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) & Special Student Relief (SSR) to Nigeria Before End of Term

WASHINGTON, DC —On November 18, 2023, a coalition of organizations advocating for immigration relief for Nigeria met with representatives from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. State Department, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and other federal agencies. The coalition, which includes the Nigerian Center, Nigerian American Lawyers Association, Amnesty International, and The ONE Campaign, called on the Biden administration to designate Nigeria for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Special Student Relief (SSR) before the administration’s term concludes. 

During the engagement session, the lead of the TPS Coalition for Nigeria emphasized the urgency of the request:

“We urge the administration to grant Nigeria Special Student Relief (SSR) designation, or, if possible, Temporary Protected Status (TPS). We request that the Biden administration extend these critical protections to Nigerian nationals and students in the U.S. before its term concludes. As the United States transitions to a new administration, we recommend prioritizing this request as a policy recommendation for the incoming administration, particularly given its stated commitment to favoring merit-based immigration. This approach is especially relevant for individuals with skills in demand in the U.S. economy.”

said Gbenga Ogunjimi, Director of the Nigerian Center and lead of the TPS Coalition for Nigeria.

As of 2024, Nigeria faces one of the most challenging periods in its economic history, marked by surging inflation and severe currency devaluation. The Naira has depreciated drastically, with $1 USD now equivalent to 1,664 Naira. For context, in 2019, the exchange rate was approximately 360 Naira per USD. This represents a staggering 362.2% devaluation in five years, causing an unprecedented loss of purchasing power. 

“This sharp decline has severely impacted families sending remittances to students in the U.S., rendering them unable to afford tuition, housing, and basic necessities. These hardships are why, in April of this year, a coalition of over 50 immigrant rights, human rights, faith-based, and community organizations petitioned the Biden administration to designate Nigeria for Special Student Relief (SSR),”

said Nkechi Ilechie, Policy Director of the Nigerian Center and co-lead of the TPS Coalition for Nigeria.  

Individuals seeking immigration assistance are encouraged to contact the Nigerian Center online or via phone at 202-330-0352. 

About the Nigerian Center

The Nigerian Center is the first immigrant and cultural center for the Nigerian diaspora. Based in Washington, D.C., the Nigerian Center provides social justice opportunities, culturally sensitive transition programs, and support for newly arrived immigrants to achieve self-sufficiency. While the center primarily serves the Nigerian American community, it is dedicated to supporting all immigrant communities in the United States.

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US Elections 2024 - New York Shows Voting Process

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By Oyiza Adaba

Bipartisan Approach: Michael J. Ryan, Executive Director of the Board of Elections in the City of New York and Vincent Ignizio, address the media. Photo Africa-Related

Michael J. Ryan, Executive Director of the Board of Elections in the City of New York and Vincent Ignizio, former Staten Island Republican councilman & bipartisan member Board of Elections offered a demonstration of voting booth processes and led a discussion on voter security and the voting tabulations process. The briefing, organized by the NY Foreign Press Center, provided an overview of the elections processes and preparations in NYC in 2024.

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Highlights

1. Early Voting and Turnout

   Michael Ryan and Vincent Ignizio highlight the increase in early voting locations and hours, emphasizing the improvements made since 2020

2. Voting Process and Security Measure including the use of privacy booths and ballot scanners security seals and the involvement of the NYPD.

3. Election Day and Results Reporting - the importance of the early mail ballot process, the process for counting and reporting results is explained

4. The Training Process for poll workers, including in-person and video training, as well as specialized training for accessibility, and  setting training standards

5. Language Accessibility

   NYC Elections Board provide services in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean

PHOTOS

Examining the Vote: Unpacking Top Issues in the US Elections

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Examining the Vote: Unpacking Top Issues in the US Elections

Moderator:

Rachael Dean Wilson

Speaker:

Domenico Montanaro

,Jessica Taylor

October 23, 2024

German Marshall Fund

Location

Online

9:00 - 10:00am EDT

Time Zone Converter

Recent ballot initiatives in states appear to show that reproductive rights are increasing turnout for women voters, as the conflict in the Middle East and student deft relief animate young voters. Meanwhile, the economy and inflation remain top issues for voters across demographic groups. But this is just a fraction of what is on voters’ minds heading into the 2024 presidential election. On October 23, ASD at GMF will convene top political analysts to attempt to decipher, for both US and European audiences, what issues are driving voters to the polls.

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Africa Regional Media Hub | Refugee Admissions for FY2025;

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Africa Regional Media Hub | Refugee Admissions for FY2025; Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS; Counter Ransomware Initiative Summit; UNGA - Global Humanitarian Assistance; DRC; Mali; UNSC: International Peace and Security

The Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2025

• Secretary Antony J. Blinken at the Opening of the D-ISIS Ministerial

• Joint Communiqué by Ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS

• Secretary Blinken to Deliver Remarks at the Fourth International Counter Ransomware Initiative Summit

• United States Announces Nearly $2.1 Billion in Humanitarian Assistance at the 79th UN General Assembly

• Remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at a UN Security Council Briefing on the Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Readout of Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s Meeting with Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop

• Remarks at a UN Security Council Meeting on Maintenance of International Peace and Security

The Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2025

Press Statement
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
September 30, 2024

President Biden today signed the Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2025, again setting the refugee admissions target at 125,000 for the upcoming fiscal year—as we have for each year of this Administration.

Refugee resettlement exemplifies the generosity that has always been at the core of the American spirit and reflects the critical role of the United States as a global leader in providing refuge to people fleeing persecution overseas. In Fiscal Year 2024, we resettled 100,000 refugees, the largest annual number in three decades. This is a testament to our successful work to rebuild the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program with help from partners around the world and thousands of Americans across the country who have stepped up to sponsor refugees through the Welcome Corps.

Refugee resettlement is orderly, subject to rigorous vetting, and benefits and enriches American communities. In cities and towns throughout America, refugees contribute to urban revitalization, add to the vibrancy of local communities, and drive America’s competitiveness and innovation on the global stage. Over a 15-year period, refugees contributed almost $124 billion to the U.S. economy. And resettlement offers the unique opportunity of a better life to some of the world’s most vulnerable people, at a time of historic global levels of displacement.

Building on the Administration’s efforts to strengthen refugee resettlement and the generous support from Americans across the country, the refugee admissions target of 125,000 ensures the United States will continue to be a global leader in providing safety and opportunity for those facing persecution around the world.

Secretary Antony J. Blinken at the Opening of the D-ISIS Ministerial

Remarks
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
Loy Henderson Auditorium
Washington, D.C.
September 30, 2024

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Ambassador, thank you very much.  Colleagues, good morning and welcome.  For those of you who are in New York, I know you just wanted to keep the High-Level Week going, so we’re glad to be able to accommodate that here in Washington.

But in all seriousness, before we get going, let me just say a few quick words about the events of the past week.  Hassan Nasrallah was a brutal terrorist, whose many victims included Americans, Israelis, civilians in Lebanon, civilians in Syria, and many others as well.  During his leadership of Hizballah, the group terrorized people across the region and prevented Lebanon from fully moving forward as a country.  Lebanon, the region, the world are safer without him.

The United States will continue to work with our partners in the region and around the world to advance a diplomatic resolution that provides real security to Israel, to Lebanon, and allows citizens on both sides of the border to return to their homes.  We likewise will continue working to secure a ceasefire deal in Gaza that brings the hostages home, eases the suffering of people in Gaza, preserves the possibility of a more lasting, secure peace for the entire region.

Diplomacy remains the best and only path to achieving greater stability in the Middle East.  The United States remains committed to urgently driving these efforts forward.

Now, turning to the subject of this ministerial, 10 years ago the United States mobilized a global coalition to confront ISIS – or Daesh – a nihilist terror group that over the course of a few months had occupied territory comprising a third of both Iraq and Syria, which it used to conduct a horrific campaign of violence and brutality.

Over the following decade, this coalition grew from 12 to 87 countries.  And together, we’ve made significant progress.  In 2017, coalition partners dismantled the last ISIS stronghold in Iraq.  Two years later, we did the same in Syria – effectively ending ISIS’s efforts to establish a geographic caliphate.  We imposed coordinated sanctions on ISIS-controlled assets to hinder the group’s recruitment and expansion.  And in the last five years, we have collectively invested billions of dollars to help restore security and public infrastructure in some of the communities devastated by ISIS.

These were vital, hard-won achievements.  But we know that our work is not done.  As ISIS aims to reconstitute itself in the Middle East and makes territorial gains in Asia and Africa, our coalition must remain clear-eyed about the evolving challenge that we face.  As we were reminded last week, this is a moment of enormous volatility in the Middle East.  It’s more important than ever that we enhance our efforts to strengthen security and stability, including in Iraq and Syria, and prevent extremists like ISIS from exploiting conflict in the region for their own benefit.

To that end, let me briefly outline the three core areas where we will focus our conversations today. 

First, the United States and Iraq will discuss – and with our other coalition partners as well – our plans for a phased transition of Operation Inherent Resolve.  This military mission, established in response to Iraq’s 2014 request for support in its campaign against ISIS, will conclude in Iraq by September 2025.  Over this period, the United States will work with Baghdad on bilateral security arrangements that will allow us to sustain and build our security partnership and cooperation.

In turn, our Iraqi partners will assume greater responsibility for ensuring that ISIS cannot retake territory within Iraq’s borders.  We’re immensely grateful to Iraq and the Iraqi Security Forces for all of the sacrifices that they’ve made in this effort, and for their steadfast leadership in combating ISIS.

As we shift into this new phase of our collaboration, we hope to continue working with our coalition partners – including the NATO Mission in Iraq, which intends to continue its own security relationship with Iraq. 

The United States will also maintain our counterterrorism efforts from outside of Iraq – including in Syria – for as long as needed.  Just this month, U.S. special forces successfully targeted multiple senior ISIS leaders in Syria, demonstrating our own resolve to degrade and dismantle the group and its affiliates. 

Second, our coalition will discuss today the repatriation of foreign fighters and their families – which remains the only durable solution to the humanitarian and security crisis in northeast Syria.

More than 43,000 displaced persons from over 60 countries reside in northeast Syria. Most are children who have never known another home. 

Meanwhile, roughly 9,000 fighters remain in detention facilities across northeast Syria – this is the single largest concentration in the world.  Even from confinement, these extremists are attempting to grow their ranks.

Increasingly, coalition partners are stepping up to meet this challenge.  Since 2021, the Iraqi Government has repatriated more than 10,400 citizens.  In the last year, the Kyrgyz Republic repatriated more than 432 of its nationals.  Partners like Kuwait have also helped facilitate repatriations, permitting planes departing from Syria to refuel at their airbases. 

Now, we know repatriation remains a complicated, difficult issue.  But if we fail to act, security conditions on the ground will only get worse.  We could see fighters once again take up arms and threaten communities that we fought so hard to protect and support.  This is not the time to let up.  It’s a moment to continue our efforts. 

We have to urgently accelerate our work to repatriate, reintegrate, and – where appropriate – prosecute detained and displaced persons from northeast Syria.  The United States stands ready to provide support – logistically, diplomatically – to advance this effort. 

Finally, we will strengthen our cooperation against ISIS branches outside of the Middle East.

In sub-Saharan Africa, ISIS affiliates have gained ground, compounding the threat already present from existing militant groups. 

To tackle this growing threat, the United States, Italy, Morocco formed the coalition’s Africa Focus Group in 2021.  Last year in Riyadh, we welcomed Saudi Arabia as a co-lead of this effort.  Already, we’ve helped African partners better align and coordinate to support civilian-led counterterrorism operations. 

ISIS-Khorasan — based out of Central and South Asia – also poses a distinctive challenge.  While waging a low-level insurgency in Central and South Asia, this group uses online recruitment to mount attacks around the world, including earlier this year in Iran and Russia.

Through the coalition’s Communications Working Group – led by the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom – we’re working with journalists, civil society groups, and activists to push back against the hollow promises that ISIS propaganda seeks to promote. 

In the coming year, we have to continue to drive these key efforts forward.

In that spirit, this morning, I can announce that the United States will provide $148 million to enhance civilian-led border security and counterterrorism operations across sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia.

Separately, we’ll contribute $168 million to the coalition’s annual Stabilization Pledge Drive for Iraq and Syria.  This assistance will enable critical demining operations, restore essential services like water and electricity, invest in education, and promote economic opportunity. 

This commitment follows the United States’ announcement last week, in New York, of $535 million in additional humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people, as well as displaced communities residing in the country. 

A decade into this fight, we can take pride in all that we’ve accomplished.  But as the challenge evolves, so must this coalition. 

And as I said, this is not the time to let up.  It’s a moment to recommit – to recommit to our common mission, to decisively defeat ISIS, and ensure greater security and stability for all of our people. 

I thank everyone for being here today, but more important I thank you for what you’re doing every day to keep this coalition together, moving forward in the mission that we share. 

Thank you very much.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

Joint Communiqué by Ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
September 30, 2024

Ten years after the formation of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS, Deputy Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers, and Senior Officials convened in Washington, D.C, today at the invitation of Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken.  The Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS is the largest international coalition in history and remains committed to defeating Daesh/ISIS anywhere it operates.

In 2014, the United States led an international response to the Iraqi government’s request for assistance against Daesh/ISIS, resulting in the formation of the Global Coalition.  In 2024, five years after the Global Coalition’s defeat of Daesh/ISIS in Iraq and Syria, Coalition members honor the sacrifices made by those who fought and died in Iraq and Syria to liberate territories from Daesh/ISIS and commend Iraq for its leadership in the Coalition.

Global Coalition Ministers commit to supporting the Government of Iraq’s efforts to safeguard the security, peace, and development of the Iraqi people.  The planned transition of the Coalition’s military mission in Iraq to bilateral security partnerships reflects a reduction of the Daesh/ISIS threat.  Ministers commend Iraq’s continuing cooperation in countering Daesh/ISIS in the region, and its ongoing leadership in broader Coalition lines of effort, including stabilization, counter financing, disruption of foreign terrorist travel, and prevention of recruitment to ensure there is no Daesh/ISIS resurgence.

Ministers endorse the priorities of the Coalition Stabilization Working Group, with a goal of raising and implementing $394 million for areas liberated from Daesh/ISIS in Iraq and Syria – toward which members have already announced commitments totaling more than $200 million.  The Ministers emphasize the importance of durable solutions for remaining populations in northeast Syria, including bringing to justice detained terrorists, ensuring accountability for crimes including gender-based violence, ensuring detainee populations are housed securely and humanely, and improving conditions for the populations residing in al-Hol and Roj displaced persons camps.  Ministers urge support to reconciliation and reintegration efforts in Iraq and Syria and to foster conditions conducive to a Syria-wide political resolution to the conflict consistent with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.  Ministers commend Iraq’s progress in repatriating over 10,000 of its nationals from northeast Syria and Iraqi efforts to apply accountability where appropriate and in assisting the displaced to reintegrate into their communities of origin.

Ministers commit to counter the continued spread of Daesh/ISIS globally, including across parts of Africa and Central and Southeast Asia.  Ministers reaffirm their commitment to mobilize members and legitimate partners and pursue whole-of-government approaches to disrupt Daesh/ISIS global networks by sharing information via trusted and secured systems, to deny their freedom of movement, and to restrict their access to financing and other resources in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2178, 2396, and 2462.  Ministers underscore the need to enhance comprehensive counterterrorism efforts, ensure that our policies and practices are appropriately human-rights-based, block terrorist access to resources and financing, disrupt cross-border movements of Daesh/ISIS, and protect and assist victims who suffered under Daesh/ISIS misrule.

Ministers condemn ISIS-K’s indiscriminate attacks in Asia and Europe and commit to deterring and disrupting future attacks.  To this end, Ministers endorse the Coalition-aligned ISKP Diplomatic Grouping, highlighting the need to improve coordination and to partner with regional counterterrorism and strategic communication initiatives.  Ministers also commend the work of the Global Coalition’s Africa Focus Group in promoting an active role of African partners and highlighted the imperative to counter malign and non-state armed actors whose actions undercut counterterrorism cooperation and destabilize regions in which they operate.  Coalition Ministers welcome the participation of observers from Central Asian states and Africa at the Ministerial and affirm their intent to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation with them.

Ministers applaud the significant work of Global Coalition members in countering Daesh/ISIS propaganda in the ever evolving and challenging information environment, including successful campaigns to expose and discredit the deceptions propagated by Daesh/ISIS.  Ministers note ongoing initiatives to prevent terrorists from dominating public narratives across traditional media, social media, and encrypted messaging applications, and underscore the importance of artificial intelligence to combat terrorist propaganda and recruitment.  Ministers emphasize that terrorism, in any form or manifestation, should not be associated with any faith, religion, or ethnic group.

Welcoming the Maldives as the newest member of the Global Coalition, bringing the total number of members to 87, Ministers especially recognize the participation of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Senegal, Pakistan, Kyrgyz Republic, and Kazakhstan as observers and committed the Coalition to increase engagement in these regions to enhance counterterrorism capacities and coordination.  Ministers support the Global Coalition adjusting its processes, structures, and instruments to ensure it continues to be fit for purpose to defeat the current Daesh/ISIS threat and to deter and defeat future threats.

On the 10th anniversary of its establishment, with continued affirmation that individual members bear the primary responsibility for the security of their homelands, the members of the Global Coalition recommit to mobilizing and coordinating efforts to defeat Daesh/ISIS in accordance with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, applicable international human rights law, and all relevant UN Security Council resolutions.  Members of the Global Coalition will stand together until Daesh/ISIS is defeated.

Secretary Blinken to Deliver Remarks at the Fourth International Counter Ransomware Initiative Summit

Notice to the Press
Office of the Spokesperson
September 30, 2024

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will deliver remarks at the Fourth International Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI) Summit on Tuesday, October 1, at 12:45 p.m. EDT at the Foreign Service Institute in Arlington, Virginia. 

CRI is the largest international cyber partnership, consisting of 68 members committed to building collective resilience to ransomware and disrupting the ransomware ecosystem. Members cooperate across all elements of the ransomware threat, including by undercutting the viability of ransomware and pursuing the actors responsible, countering illicit finance that underpins the ransomware ecosystem, and working with the private sector to defend against ransomware attacks. CRI is a key pillar of the United States’ commitment to working closely with partners across the globe to counter ransomware and other cyber criminal actors, as detailed in the United States International Cyberspace and Digital Policy Strategy launched by Secretary Blinken in May. 

The Secretary’s remarks will be replayed on the Department homepage and the Department YouTube channel. Press coverage of the remarks will be open to pre-registered media. Media who would like to cover in person must RSVP by emailing CDP-Press@state.gov by 8:00 p.m. today, September 30, 2024.

United States Announces Nearly $2.1 Billion in Humanitarian Assistance at the 79th UN General Assembly

Fact Sheet
Office of the Spokesperson
September 30, 2024

At the 79th UN General Assembly, the United States announced nearly $2.1 billion in humanitarian assistance to address the unprecedented level of humanitarian needs globally.  This funding supports critical and life-saving humanitarian assistance to those impacted by crises, including displaced persons and the receptive host communities supporting displaced persons in their time of need.  This generous life-saving assistance from the American people includes more than $873 million through the Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration and more than $1.2 billion through the United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.  We call on other international donors to also make every effort to increase humanitarian funding to respond to the extreme level of need impacting people globally.

Humanitarian assistance announced at the 79th UN General Assembly includes:

• Nearly $424 million for the Sudan regional response: This includes assistance in Sudan and neighboring countries to respond to needs stemming from the crisis that began in April 2023 and has become one of the most severe global challenges.  It will provide food, health, nutrition, protection, and other critical assistance to people across Sudan and neighboring countries who have been devastated by the ongoing conflict.

• Nearly $336 million to support Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank : This assistance provides life-saving humanitarian aid, including expanded support in emergency health care, food, nutrition, psychosocial services, and increased access to safe drinking water, hygiene products, and sanitation services for Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank affected by the ongoing conflict.  It also supports logistics and emergency shelter assistance to displaced Gazans to help them prepare for the upcoming winter months.

• Nearly $535 million for the Syria response: This assistance will help meet the needs of the most vulnerable refugees, internally displaced persons, and host communities in Syria and neighboring countries.  This includes emergency shelter; food assistance; access to health care and education; water, sanitation, and hygiene supplies; support for livelihoods; and protection for those in situations of vulnerability.

• Nearly $199 million for Rohingya refugees and their host communities: This assistance supports the needs of Rohingya refugees and communities hosting them in Bangladesh and the region.  It will provide protection, shelter, and food for those forced to flee violence and persecution.  It will also support disaster preparedness and protection for refugees and host communities, bolster access to education and skills training, and prepare refugees for their potential return home when conditions allow.

• $597 million for migration efforts in the Western Hemisphere: This assistance responds to the needs of refugees, vulnerable migrants, as well as other displaced and stateless persons across the region, including life-saving assistance such as emergency food assistance, shelter, access to emergency health care, improvements to local infrastructure for potable water and sanitation facilities, access to protection services, and support to local schools.  It also supports the Safe Mobility Initiative and advances the goals of the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection to foster responsibility sharing, stability, and assistance for affected communities.

The United States is proud to be the largest single donor of humanitarian assistance globally, providing more than $54 billion in humanitarian assistance since 2021.  The United States is leading efforts to respond to global humanitarian needs, working with partners to transform humanitarian response for the 21st century, and making humanitarian assistance more resilient to climate impacts.

For further information, please follow @StatePRM and @USAIDSavesLives.

Remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at a UN Security Council Briefing on the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
U.S. Representative to the United Nations
New York, New York
September 30, 2024

AS DELIVERED

Thank you, Mr. President. Before I give my remarks, I just want to share that I was just informed that Dikembe Mutombo, a very renowned humanitarian, former NBA star, Congolese-American, who worked to contribute to the well being of the Congolese people, just died at the age of [58]. So, may his soul rest in peace.

Thank you SRSG Keita for your briefing today, and for the dedicated efforts of the entire UN and MONUSCO teams in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I want to thank our civil society briefer, Ms. Nzale-Kove, for your briefing. And I want to thank Sierra Leone for your briefing.

The United States offers its full support to the ongoing ceasefire in eastern DRC, and to Angola’s leadership of both the Luanda process and the Ad Hoc Verification Mechanism.

We call on all parties to honor the ceasefire, and direct their aligned armed groups to do the same. The parties’ willingness to come to the table is a positive first step, but there is still far more work to be done. They must also deliver on their commitments and bring peace to the people of this region.

Rwanda must immediately withdraw its more than 4,000 troops from DRC territory and cease its support for M23. M23 must immediately withdraw to its November 2023 positions. And the DRC must take immediate actions against FDLR and cease its support to the group.

In addition, the United States appreciates the strong collaboration between the DRC government and MONUSCO on both the mission’s drawdown and its ongoing, essential activities including to reinforce the current ceasefire and protect displaced civilians.

We also welcome the DRC’s efforts at the local and national levels to consolidate MONUSCO’s drawdown from South Kivu.

That being said, MONUSCO’s departure from South Kivu has left critical gaps that cannot go unfilled.

For example, five of six child protection advisors who monitored and reported on violations against children have left the province.

Their absence underscores the urgency of effectively transitioning MONUSCO’s wide ranging tasks to entities, particularly the DRC government, that are properly mandated and well-resourced.

We encourage MONUSCO, the UN, and the DRC government to ensure these capacities are urgently filled. And we reiterate our position that this Council should not authorize a further drawdown of MONUSCO without a clear plan to mitigate against these gaps.

To that end, we appreciate the frank efforts by MONUSCO and DRC authorities to reflect on the disengagement process, and ensure a sequenced, orderly, and coordinated approach. Because ultimately, sustainable transitions take place.

We support the technical discussions already underway between MONUSCO, and the DRC government, and international partners to take advantage of significant lead time in the mission’s departure from North Kivu and Ituri. Especially because significant challenges remain in these provinces.

In North Kivu, M23 continues to obstruct the movements of MONUSCO and humanitarian actors, while threatening violence against UN peacekeepers and positions. Demands that MONUSCO vacate its positions so that M23 can consolidate or further expand its territorial control are wholly unacceptable. We offer our firmest support to the MONUSCO personnel stationed in these areas, who have demonstrated great professionalism and resolve.

In Ituri, we remain deeply concerned by the increasingly lethal operations perpetrated against civilians by the armed group CODECO and the terrorist organization ISIS-DRC, or ADF.

MONUSCO’s role in protecting civilians, including those in vulnerable internally displaced person camps, is absolutely essential, especially in areas with scant government security presence.

Finally, the United States urges improved communications between MONUSCO and SAMIDRC to ensure the collaboration as authorized under UN Security Council Resolution 2746 does not inflame regional tensions at a fragile moment.

We look forward to a detailed Secretary-General report on the implementation of that resolution.

In closing, we strongly urge the parties to take advantage of this unique opportunity to deliver peace to the region by fully committing to diplomatic processes and taking courageous steps to end this conflict.

For the sake of the people of the Great Lakes region, we must not let this chance escape us.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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Readout of Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s Meeting with Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop

United States Mission to the United Nations
Office of Press and Public Diplomacy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2024

The below is attributable to U.S. Mission to the United Nations Acting Spokesperson Lauren French:

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. Representative to the United Nations, met today with Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop. Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield condemned the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist attack in Mali on September 17, and offered condolences to the families and loved ones of the killed and injured. The Ambassador affirmed the United States’ commitment to engaging with Mali and the broader region to combat terrorism, as well as to continue longstanding U.S. support to the people of Mali. Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield urged the transitional government to schedule and hold elections to deliver on its pledge to the Malian people.

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Remarks at a UN Security Council Meeting on Maintenance of International Peace and Security

Ambassador Robert Wood
Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs
New York, New York
September 30, 2024

Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to thank the directors of UNHCR and IOM for their briefings. We appreciate the role of IOM and the High Commissioner for Refugees to help ensure migrants and refugees are treated in accordance with international law.

The United States acknowledges the decision of the penholders of resolution 2240 not to seek renewal of its authorizations for Member States to inspect vessels on the high seas off Libya’s coast suspected of being used for migrant smuggling and human trafficking from that country, and to seize those vessels confirmed as being used for those purposes.

We do, however, remain deeply concerned about migrant smuggling and human trafficking.

Since 2015, Operation Irini has been a key component of international efforts to alleviate the human tragedy of migrant deaths on the high seas off Libya’s coast and in the Mediterranean.

The European Union demonstrated through Operation Irini its steadfast commitment to rescuing refugees, migrants, and victims of trafficking.

The reality is that irregular migration is a challenge that is bigger than just Operation Irini could address. We all share responsibility for managing migration on our respective borders and a commitment to promoting safe, orderly, humane, and regular migration management.

We believe that prioritizing both access to international protection for those who need it, and humane border management measures, are essential to addressing forced displacement and the challenges of irregular migration.

To that end, the United States welcomed UNSMIL’s statements about the Trans-Mediterranean Migration Forum in Tripoli this past July as an important opportunity to advance an approach to migration governance that respects human rights.

The international community can do more to help vulnerable migrants by supporting the Secretary-General’s call for a holistic approach to address the root causes of irregular migration. We must recommit to ending the conflicts and reducing the extreme poverty that are driving many individuals to leave their homes in the first place.

The United States stands ready to work constructively with others in this regard. Thank you.

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The U.S. Department of State French Language Spokesperson Johann Schmonsees is based in Johannesburg, South Africa.  Please direct interview requests or questions to AFMediaHub@state.gov.

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