The United States has carried out military strikes against Islamic State positions in northwestern Nigeria. Announced by Donald Trump, this intervention marks an unprecedented security escalation since his return to the White House. Washington claims to have acted at the request of the Nigerian authorities, in a context of persistent violence.
US President Donald Trump announced that the US military had carried out several strikes against fighters from the Islamic State organization in Nigeria. The operation, carried out in the northwest of the country, was presented as a direct response to the violence attributed to the jihadist group. This is the first US military action of this nature in Nigeria under the current presidency.
Strikes claimed by the White House
In an official communication, Donald Trump claimed that American forces had inflicted heavy losses on the Islamic State organization. According to Washington, these strikes targeted targets identified in Sokoto state, an area affected by armed insecurity.
Nigerian authorities confirmed the American intervention, emphasizing their commitment to security cooperation with several international partners.
Donald Trump justified this intervention by citing attacks targeting Christian populations, which he described as a major threat. This reading is, however, contested by the Nigerian authorities and several analysts, who believe that the violence is linked to a complex combination of security, economic and territorial factors, rather than to systematic religious persecution.
A country facing multidimensional insecurity
Beyond jihadism in the northeast, Nigeria is facing an increase in kidnappings for ransom, particularly in the northwest and center of the country. Hundreds of civilians, including students and believers, have been targeted in recent months, according to the United Nations and specialist firms.
This violence takes place in a context of weakening State authority, where armed banditry has gradually become structured into a lucrative activity, worsening the security and humanitarian crisis.
