Members of the United States House of Representatives have introduced a bill addressing illegal Chinese mining operations in Nigeria, alleging that some activities may be linked to the financing of Fulani militias and other destabilizing acts.
The legislation, titled the “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026,” was introduced on Tuesday by Republican lawmakers Chris Smith, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga. It directs the US Secretary of State to work with the Nigerian government to curb these practices and support regional stability.
The bill claims there is “hostile foreign exploitation of Chinese illegal mining operations” in Nigeria, with lawmakers alleging that some mining activities contribute to violence by providing “protection payments to Fulani militias.”
Clauses 10 and 11 of the proposed legislation instruct the Secretary of State to consider providing technical support to Nigeria, including disarmament programs and comprehensive counter-terrorism cooperation to reduce and ultimately eliminate militia violence. The bill also emphasizes the need to counteract destabilizing practices linked to illegal mining.
Additionally, the legislation calls on the US Department of State to coordinate with international partners, including France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom, to promote religious freedom and peace in the region. The Secretary is also tasked with determining whether certain Fulani-ethnic militias meet the criteria for designation as “Foreign Terrorist Organizations.”
The bill references a 2023 report by The Times, which alleged that some Chinese nationals in Nigeria’s mining sector were indirectly funding militant groups in the northwest to secure access to mineral resources. Certain miners in Zamfara reportedly acted as intermediaries for these groups, raising concerns that Beijing could be indirectly financing violence in Africa’s largest economy.
If enacted, the legislation would represent a significant US intervention in Nigeria’s mineral and security sectors, linking foreign mining activities to militia operations and highlighting broader concerns about governance, counter-terrorism, and regional stability.
