U.S. Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC) has issued a sharp rebuke of former President Joe Biden’s foreign policy decisions, specifically criticizing the removal of Nigeria from the U.S. State Department’s Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list—a designation reserved for nations with severe violations of religious freedom.
In a statement posted Thursday on her official X (formerly Twitter) account, Rep. Mace declared, “Nigeria has become one of the deadliest countries in the world for Christians.” She expressed alarm over what she described as a growing crisis of religious persecution in Nigeria, citing escalating violence against Christian communities and the lack of adequate international response.
“The Biden administration’s decision to delist Nigeria from the CPC sends the wrong message to perpetrators of religious violence,” Mace stated. “It undermines the United States’ longstanding commitment to defending religious liberty around the world.”
The CPC designation, which had previously been applied to Nigeria under the Trump administration, was removed in 2021 by the Biden-led State Department. Critics argue that this move has emboldened extremist groups and weakened international pressure on the Nigerian government to protect vulnerable religious minorities.
Mace’s comments align with a growing chorus of bipartisan concern in Congress over the deteriorating state of religious freedom in Nigeria. Human rights organizations have also documented a troubling rise in attacks on Christian communities, particularly in the Middle Belt and northern regions of the country.
“We must not turn a blind eye to the suffering of innocent people,” Mace added. “The United States has a moral obligation to stand with those persecuted for their faith.”
The lawmaker also praised President Donald Trump for his administration’s firm stance on international religious freedom, including the original designation of Nigeria as a CPC. She urged the current administration to reconsider its position and re-engage with global partners to address the crisis.