Fresh US bill links Chinese mining to Fulani militia funding in Nigeria

A bill introduced in the United States House of Representatives has raised fresh concerns over alleged links between illegal Chinese mining operations in Nigeria and the funding of armed Fulani militias.

The proposed legislation, titled Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, is pushing for stronger collaboration between the US and Nigerian governments to tackle what lawmakers described as hostile foreign exploitation of Nigeria’s mining sector.

According to details of the bill, U.S. lawmakers claim some illegal mining networks — allegedly involving Chinese operators — pay “protection money” to armed groups to secure mining operations.

The bill is also pushing the U.S. Secretary of State to work with the Nigerian government to counter foreign exploitation of illegal mining and help reduce violence linked to armed Fulani militia groups.

Lawmakers are further proposing investigations into individuals or networks, local or foreign, that provide support to armed groups operating in Nigeria.

If passed, the legislation could also lead to sanctions, visa bans and asset freezes against individuals or organisations found culpable, while pushing stronger U.S.–Nigeria cooperation on counter-terrorism and religious freedom enforcement.

The bill is still at proposal stage and has been referred to relevant committees for consideration in the U.S. Congress.