U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said he has asked the Defense Department to prepare for possible “fast” military action in Nigeria if the West African nation fails to crack down on the killing of Christians.

The U.S. government will also immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and top oil producer, Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

If the United States sends in military forces, it would go in “‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump wrote, without providing any evidence of specifics about the treatment of Christians in Nigeria.

Trump called Nigeria a “disgraced country” and warned its government must move quickly. “If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!” he wrote.

Abuja had no immediate reaction to Trump’s threat of military action. The White House also had no immediate comment on the potential timing of any U.S. military action.

Although the U.S. Department of Defense referred Reuters to the White House for comment on Trump’s threat, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth released a social media post of his own.

“The Department of War is preparing for action,” Hegseth wrote on X. “Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”

Trump’s post on Nigeria came a day after his administration added Nigeria back to a “Countries of Particular Concern” list of nations that the U.S. says have violated religious freedom. Other nations on the list include China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia and Pakistan.

Before Trump posted his attack threat, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu earlier on Saturday pushed back against claims of religious intolerance and defended his country’s efforts to protect religious freedom.

“The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians,” Tinubu said in a statement, citing “constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.”

Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry, in a separate statement, vowed to keep fighting violent extremism and said it hoped Washington would remain a close ally, saying it “will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion. Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength.”

The U.S. military footprint in West Africa was significantly diminished when about 1,000 troops withdrew from Niger last year. While the U.S. sometimes has small groups of troops in the region to take part in drills, the largest U.S. military base on the continent is in East Africa in Djibouti, which hosts over 5,000 troops and is used for operations in the region.

TRUMP PUT NIGERIA ON ‘CONCERN LIST’ DURING FIRST TERM

Trump had designated Nigeria a country of concern during his first term in the White House. His Democratic successor Joe Biden removed it from the U.S. State Department list in 2021.

On Friday, Trump said “thousands of Christians” were being killed in Nigeria by radical Islamists, but offered no details.

Nigeria, which has 200 ethnic groups practicing Christianity, Islam and traditional religions, has a long history of peaceful coexistence, but it has also seen flare-ups of violence among groups, often exacerbated by ethnic divisions or conflict over scarce resources.

The extremist Islamist armed group Boko Haram has also terrorized northeast Nigeria, an insurgency that has killed tens of thousands of people over the past 15 years. Human rights experts have said most Boko Haram victims have been Muslims.

U.S. lawmakers such as Representative Tom Cole, a Republican who chairs the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, hailed Trump’s move on Friday, citing what they called “the alarming and ongoing persecution of Christians across the country.”

The committee’s fiscal 2026 national security appropriations bill included increased funding for international religious freedom programs and support for programs supporting communities in Nigeria targeted by extremist violence.

Trump’s re-designation of Nigeria as a country of concern opens the door to a range of policy responses such as sanctions or waivers, but they are not automatic.

Some religious groups pressed Trump for the re-designation in a letter last month, according to a copy on the Hudson Institute think tank’s website.

“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump wrote without offering any specifics. He also called on the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee to investigate.

Reporting by Andrea Shalal, Doina Chiacu, Susan Heavey and Idrees Ali in Washington, Ismail Shakil in Ottawa and Camillus Eboh in Abuja; Editing by MacDonald Dzirutwe, Andrea Ricci, Sergio Non and Lincoln Feast.

-Reuters

Morocco’s monarch, King Mohammed VI has reaffirmed the kingdom’s unwavering commitment to achieving a peaceful and dignified resolution to the Moroccan Sahara issue — one that “preserves the dignity of all parties, with no winner and no loser.”

In a national address on Friday evening, the King highlighted that while the question of Morocco’s territorial integrity continues to record “positive developments,” the Kingdom remains guided by a spirit of unity, dialogue, and mutual respect.

“Morocco does not brandish these changes as a trophy, nor does it seek to fuel antagonisms or deepen divisions,” His Majesty said.

“We sincerely call upon our brothers in the Tindouf camps to seize this historic opportunity to reunite with their kin and take advantage of the Autonomy Initiative — to contribute to the management of local affairs, to the development of their homeland, and to the building of their future within a united Morocco.”

Reiterating his role as guarantor of citizens’ rights and freedoms, the Monarch assured that all Moroccans are equal, regardless of their origins or past circumstances.

“There is no difference between those who return from the Tindouf camps and their brothers residing in the rest of the national territory,” the King affirmed.

Call for Reconciliation with Algeria

In a notable gesture of goodwill, King Mohammed VI extended a hand of friendship to Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, proposing a “sincere fraternal dialogue” to overcome past differences and lay the foundation for “new relations based on trust, brotherhood, and good neighborliness.”

The Sovereign also reiterated Morocco’s commitment to reviving the Arab Maghreb Union, built on “mutual respect, cooperation, and complementarity” among its five member states.

Tribute to Southern Provinces and National Forces

The King praised the progress and stability achieved in Morocco’s southern provinces, attributing it to the collective sacrifices and patriotism of the Moroccan people.

“We express the pride and esteem We feel for all Our faithful subjects, particularly the inhabitants of our southern provinces, who have always demonstrated their attachment to the sacred symbols of the Nation, its national unity, and its territorial integrity,” His Majesty declared.

He further commended the “tireless efforts” of Morocco’s diplomatic corps, political parties, and institutions in advancing the country’s sovereignty claims and strengthening international recognition of its territorial integrity.

Honoring the Spirit of the Green March

Commemorating the anniversary of the Glorious Green March, the King paid homage to the Royal Armed Forces, security agencies, and families who have defended Morocco’s unity for the past fifty years.

“We remember with deep respect and honor the memory of the Architect of the Green March, Our revered Father, His Majesty King Hassan II — may God grant Him His holy mercy — as well as all the valiant martyrs of the Nation,” the Sovereign concluded.

The King’s message underscored Morocco’s dual commitment to diplomacy and unity, portraying the Autonomy Initiative as both a practical framework for regional reconciliation and a reaffirmation of the country’s long-standing vision for peace and stability in the Maghreb.

Four Moroccan truck drivers were abducted earlier this year in northeastern Burkina Faso. They have been released unharmed. The Malian government announced their release.

According to an official statement read on Mali’s national television, the drivers were kidnapped on January 18, 2025. This happened near the Burkina Faso-Niger border. They were freed on Sunday evening, August 3.

“The government of the Republic of Mali informs the national and international community. Four Moroccan truck drivers were kidnapped on January 18, 2025, and released unharmed on the evening of Sunday, August 3,” the statement declared.

Authorities confirmed that the abductees had been held by the Islamic State terrorist group in the Sahel Province, the regional affiliate of the so-called Islamic State (Daesh).

The successful rescue operation was the result of a joint effort between Mali’s National Agency for State Security and Morocco’s General Directorate of Studies and Documentation (DGED).

Both agencies had reportedly launched a coordinated investigation from the early hours of the abduction and maintained close collaboration throughout the months-long effort.

The Malian government commended the professionalism and determination of the security services involved. The outcome marks a significant victory against terrorist networks. These networks operate in the volatile tri-border area between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

Further details about the circumstances of the drivers’ release were not disclosed.