Biafra Leader Urges US to Reject Nigeria Cultural Agreement

Ogechukwu Nkere, the Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), called on the United States government to reject the renewal of its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nigeria concerning cultural property. This appeal was made during a testimony before the US State Department’s Cultural Property Advisory Committee on July 14, 2026.

Nkere cited the alleged persecution of Christians and pro-Biafra groups in Nigeria as a critical factor for the US to consider before extending the MOU. He referenced Nigeria's designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” by the US government in his arguments.

Nkere stated that the MOU should be suspended until Nigeria aligns with broader US government priorities regarding human rights. He emphasized that an MOU with the US is a privilege, not a right.

The BRGIE described Nkere's testimony as historic, marking the first time a Biafran independence leader participated in such a hearing. This development coincided with a recent letter from US President Donald Trump to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.