The USCIRF Report
and concerns about Africa
On March 4th the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom released its annual report for 2026. This report assesses religious freedom violations in 29 countries for the calendar year 2025 and makes independent recommendations for U.S. Policy.
The release initiates a process where the Secretary of State will determine which nations will be designated as Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) or placed on the Special Watch List (SWL) as defined by the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). Non-State actors’ merit being designated as an Entity of Particular Concern (EPC). The Commission also monitors actions taken by the U.S. Government while addressing FoRB (Freedom of Religion or Belief) as well.
One of the major challenges for advocates is that there were no formal designations of any CPCs or countries placed on the Special Watch list since 2023. At that time the following countries were designated as CPCs Burma (Myanmar), China, Cuba. Eritrea, Iran, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
The Countries that were on the SWL were Algeria, Azerbaijan, Central African Republic, Comoros and Vietnam
The EPCs were Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, Hay’at Tahir al-Sham (HTS), the Houthis, ISIS-Sahel, the Islamic State in West Africa, JNIM and the Taliban.
What is the Commission recommending for 2026? The countries that were listed remains the same with the following countries added Afghanistan, India, Libya, Syria and Vietnam
Maintaining Algeria and Azerbaijan on the SWL but adding Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Qatar, Turkey and Uzbekistan
The previous list of EPCs is recommended with the addition of the Rapid Support Forces of Sudan
When President Trump designated Nigeria as a CPC on October 31,2025 it set off a flurry of moves including kinetic action launched on Christmas Day. The Nigerian Government has taken some measures to handle the negative PR but not addressing the violations that continue to plague the country daily.
In contrast the situation in Eritrea has not drawn the attention as the situation in Nigeria. Nor does Asmara appreciate any scrutiny of any activities used to control religious activities in the country. In June 2025, the government announced that it was seeking to end the mandate for the UN mandate to investigate alleged abuses that are being committed by the government. In July the UN Human Rights Council rejected Eritrea’s attempt to end the mandate and instead renewed the mandate for an additional year.
Libya presents a myriad of challenges not just for religious freedom but also to regional stability. Since the ouster of Qadhafi in 2011, the country has been fragmented into rival factions. There is no permanent constitution; however, the rule of law is mandated by an interim declaration. It designates Islam as the state religion and Shari’a as the principal source of legislation. One key concern was the conviction of 10 Christians and one Atheist on charges relating to their religious beliefs.
Egypt is recommended to be placed the Special Watch List for several reasons. One is the implementation of Law 98(f) which punishes people for “ridiculing or insulting a heavenly religion or sect”. Another contentious issue is the National Identity Cards for those who don’t identify as either Jewish, Christian or Muslim. There are concerns regarding the plight of young Coptic Christian females as well.
The Rapid Support Forces in Sudan are designated particularly for their mass atrocities and widespread human rights violations. The capture of El Fasher in Darfur last year and the aftermath show how the group has fought this war to remain relevant in Sudan. In recent weeks the group has been accused of using UAVs based in Ethiopia to continue operations against the Sudanese Armed Forces.
In the DRC the Allied Democratic Forces or ISIS-DRC targeted churches in the eastern part of the Country however since they don’t control territory like M23. USCIRF has documented over 70 killings in Lubero and forty Christians killed during an evening worship in Komanda
Mozambique with the violence in Cabo Delgado still being carried out by ISIS yielded dozens of Christians killed.
The attacks in the DRC and Mozambique are just the tip of the iceberg. Religious focused violence is rising in places such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Cameroon being cited as places where the violence is rising and Christians are often forced to flee for their safety.
The year is already off to a bloody start. It doesn’t show any signs of slowing down either