Russia calls on the United States to adhere to international law following statements by Donald Trump threatening a military operation or air strikes in Nigeria over what he called a “genocide against the Christians,” Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated this on Friday during a press briefing in Moscow.
“We are monitoring this situation. We urge strict compliance with the norms of international law,” Zakharova stated.
Earlier in November, Trump told journalists that the United States did not rule out the use of military force in Nigeria following reports of “mass killings of Christians” and the “inaction” of the West African country’s authorities. Before that, Trump had declared Nigeria “a country of particular concern” and said he planned to “investigate the mass killings of Christians by radical Islamists.”
Media reports also said that the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) had prepared three plans for the Department of Defense to counter radical Islamists in Nigeria, one of which would involve deploying American fighter aircraft in the African country.
Following Trump’s remarks, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stating that the claims of a “genocide of Christians” in Nigeria were unfounded and only served to heighten tensions in the region. (African Initiative/GSF)
