The United States on Monday placed Nigeria on a religious freedom blacklist, paving the way for potential sanctions if it does not improve its record.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo designated the U.S. ally — for the first time — as a "Country of Particular Concern" for religious freedom, alongside nations that include China, Iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Pompeo did not elaborate on the reasons for including Nigeria, which has a delicate balance between Muslims and Christians.
Pompeo notably did not include India, which has a growing relationship with Washington, and was infuriated by a recommendation from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom to include the secular but Hindu-majority nation over what it called a sharp downward turn under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Other nations on the blacklist are Eritrea, Myanmar, North Korea, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
Areas of concern
Pompeo removed from a second tier watchlist both Uzbekistan and Sudan, whose relations with the United States have rapidly warmed after the ousting of dictator Omar al-Bashir and its recent agreement to recognize Israel.
On Nigeria, an annual State Department report published earlier this year took note of concerns both at the federal and state levels.
It pointed to the mass detention of members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, a Shi'ite Muslim group that has been at loggerheads with the government for decades and was banned by a court.
FILE - Nigerian police officers patrol in the streets of Abuja during clashes with members of the Shi'ite Islamic Movement of Nigeria, July 22, 2019.
The group has taken inspiration from Iran, ordinarily a major target of President Donald Trump's administration.
However, Nigeria has been widely criticized for its treatment of the movement, including in a 2015 clash in which hundreds were said to have died.
The State Department report highlighted the arrests of Muslims for eating in public in Kano state during Ramadan, when Muslims are supposed to fast during daylight hours.
It also took note of the approval of a bill in Kaduna state to regulate religious preaching.
Improve or face sanctions
While the designations relate to government actions, the State Department has already listed Nigeria's Boko Haram as a terrorist group.
The militants began an insurgency in 2009 in northeastern Nigeria that has since spread to neighboring countries, killing more than 36,000 people and forcing 3 million to flee their homes, according to the United Nations.
Under U.S. law, nations on the blacklist must make improvements or face sanctions, including losses of U.S. government assistance, although the administration can waive actions.
-VOA
Central Africa
"Congo is not burning" UN mission head in DRC says
Head of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo held Wednesday her last press...
Southern Africa
South Africa to get 1st batch of vaccine from India
South Africa’s president Monday confirmed his country will soon receive its first consignment of C...
Economy
South Africa is losing thousands of millionaires
The latest research from New World Wealth and AfrAsia Bank shows that South Africa has lost 3,400 do...
East Africa
At least nine killed near Somalia-Kenya border as tensions rise
Heavy fighting at a Somali town near the Kenyan border has killed at least nine people, according to...
West Africa
US adds Nigeria to religious freedom blacklist
The United States on Monday placed Nigeria on a religious freedom blacklist, paving the way for pote...
Mining
FUSIONNOW 2: How the industry contributes the regional development
A year ago, the participants of the 2nd round of the unique international creative competition Fusio...
North Africa
Egypt says reviewing $23 billion high-speed train network with Siemens
Egypt is reviewing a final agreement with Germany’s Siemens AG to develop a 360 billion Egyptian p...
Business
THE Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement plans to establish a labour union to liberate Namibian w...
Opinion
Angola: Could Isabel dos Santos make a comeback?
More than 700,000 leaked documents were made public a year ago by Rui Pinto, a Portuguese hacker a...