Foreign Affairs - Abia ThinkTank News

Jul

20

2026

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By Abia ThinkTank

46-Year-Old Senegalese President, Faye, Elected ECOWAS Chairman

Foreign Affairs, News Flash

46-year-old Senegal’s President, Faye, Elected ECOWAS Chairman Senegalese President Bassirou Faye has been elected chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Faye was elected on Sunday at the 69th ordinary session of the ECOWAS authority of heads of state and government held in Lungi, Sierra Leone. He succeeds Sierra Leonian President Julius Bio. In another diplomatic win for the French-speaking West African country, Birame Diop, former minister of the armed forces, was elected president of the ECOWAS Commission for the 2026-2030 term. It is the first time Senegal has been elected to preside over the commission since…

Jul

16

2026

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By Abia ThinkTank

Strait Of Hormuz Crises Deepens As US, Iran Exchange Fresh Strikes

Foreign Affairs, News Flash, War, World News

Strait Of Hormuz Crisis Deepens As US, Iran Exchange Fresh Strikes The United States carried out fresh strikes on Iranian military targets on Thursday, while Iran responded with attacks on US allies in the Gulf, as fighting over the Strait of Hormuz entered its sixth day despite a preliminary agreement reached in June to end the conflict. The Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas shipments, has remained at the centre of the renewed conflict. Iran insists it controls the waterway, which has become a major point of tension in the latest round of fighting. The…

Jul

16

2026

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By Abia ThinkTank

US House Votes To Withhold 100% Of Aid To Nigeria Over Christian Persecution

Foreign Affairs, News Flash, Religion

US House Votes To Withhold 100% Of Aid To Nigeria Over Christian Persecution An amendment sponsored by United States Congressman Gregory Steube to withhold all US assistance to Nigeria until the country meets specific conditions to tackle violence has been adopted by the House of Representatives. The amendment, approved by a voice vote on Wednesday, was added to the fiscal 2027 State Department spending bill, which the House later passed 217-209 largely along party lines. Announcing the vote on X, Steube wrote, “My amendment to withhold 100% of U.S. aid to Nigeria until its government stops the slaughter of Christians…

Jul

16

2026

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By Abia ThinkTank

Insecurity: USA Advise Nigeria To Strengthen Protection For Christians, IDPs

Foreign Affairs, News Flash, Security

US Urges Nigeria To Strengthen Protection For Christians, IDPs The United States has urged Nigeria to intensify efforts to protect Christian communities from attacks and ensure the safe return of internally displaced persons to their communities. The call was made by the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, during a visit to Abuja, where he held talks with senior Nigerian government officials aimed at advancing the U.S.-Nigeria strategic partnership. According to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Abuja, on Wednesday, Garcia met with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye; Chief…

Jun

10

2026

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By Abia ThinkTank

Iran Re-evaluates Negotiations After US Strikes

Foreign Affairs, News Flash, War, World News

Iran Re-evaluates Negotiations After US Strikes Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, has cited that Iran is “reviewing” negotiations with the United States (US) in light of strikes on Iran last night, as reported by the Iranian Student News Network (SNN). Baghaei accused the US and Israel of “repeated ceasefire violations” and said that diplomacy cannot “take place in a vacuum,” adding that “a minimal environment in which diplomacy can function” is necessary for negotiations to advance. “Unfortunately, the United States is undermining this process through contradictory messages; frequent shifts in its positions and demands, as well as repeated ceasefire…

May

02

2026

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By Abia ThinkTank

Straight Of Hormuz: Any Ship That Pays Toll To Iran Will Feel Our Wrath – US Issues Strong Warning

Foreign Affairs, International, News Flash

Strait Of Hormuz: Any Ship That Pays Toll To Iran Will Feel Our Wrath – US Issues Strong Warning AttNews reports that the United States has issued a strong warning that any ship that pays toll to Iran would feel its wrath. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, OFAC, gave the warning on Friday. It stated that fulfilling any demand for an Iranian toll in exchange for passage through the Strait of Hormuz risks exposure to US sanctions. “Any ships that pay toll to Iran will feel our wrath. OFAC is issuing this alert to warn US and…

May

02

2026

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By Abia ThinkTank

US To Review Aid, Humanitarian Assistance To Nigeria Over Insecurity

Foreign Affairs, International, News Flash

US To Review Aid, Humanitarian Assistance To Nigeria Over Insecurity The US government is moving to place stricter conditions on financial assistance to Nigeria with the House Committee on Appropriations recommending a 50 percent cut in aid and developmental assistance to the Federal Government over escalating insecurity and religious violence across the country. If passed into law, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill, 2027, would see Nigeria lose access to billions of dollars already earmarked by Washington for aid and development programmes for Fiscal Years 2027 through 2028 The bill, which made appropriations for national…

Mar

27

2026

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By Abia ThinkTank

Iran Lowers Minimum Age For War Support Roles To 12 Years Old

Foreign Affairs, News Flash, War, World News

Iran Lowers Minimum Age For War Support Roles To 12 Years Old An official from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the minimum age for participation in war-related support roles has been lowered to 12, according to remarks aired on state media. Rahim Nadali, a cultural official with the Guards in Tehran, said an initiative called “For Iran” was recruiting participants to assist with activities such as patrols, checkpoints and logistics. “Given that the age of those coming forward has dropped and they are asking to take part, we lowered the minimum age to 12,” he said, adding that 12- and 13-year-olds…

Mar

20

2026

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By Abia ThinkTank

Nigeria Signs UK Deal To Receive Deported Failed Asylum Seekers, Criminals

Foreign Affairs, Immigration, News Flash

Nigeria Signs UK Deal To Receive Deported Failed Asylum Seekers, Crim¡nals Nigeria and the United Kingdom signed a major new migration partnership on Thursday, March 19, 2026, designed to fast-track the deportation of failed asylum seekers and foreign criminals. The agreement was formalized during President Bola Tinubu’s historic state visit to the UK—the first by a West African leader in 37 years. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood. The deal specifically targets individuals with no legal right to remain in the UK, including thousands of…

Mar

18

2026

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By Abia ThinkTank

First Lady, Remi Tinubu To Preach At Lambeth Palace During UK Visit

FGN, Foreign Affairs, News Flash

First Lady, Remi Tinubu To Preach At Lambeth Palace During UK Visit The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, is scheduled to preach at Lambeth Palace in London on Thursday as part of activities lined up for President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom. Lambeth Palace serves as the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury and is a central site for the Church of England. According to details of the official itinerary published by AFP, the First Lady will also meet with representatives of the Church of England during the visit. The visit marks Nigeria’s first state visit…