Russia monitoring Nigeria situation after Trump's attack threat, urges US to respect int'l law
Moscow calls on Washington to respect international law amid reports of possible US military action in Nigeria.
Russia is closely watching reports that the United States may be considering military action in Nigeria, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has said, urging Washington to act in line with international law.
“We are closely monitoring this issue and call on all parties involved to strictly comply with international legal norms,” Zakharova said on Friday during a weekly press briefing in Moscow, responding to a question about the situation in the African country.
Her comments followed remarks by US President Donald Trump on November 1, when he said he had directed the Pentagon to draw up possible military action in order to “protect Christian communities” in Nigeria.
While no official confirmation of such plans has been released by Washington, Trump’s statement has drawn attention from foreign capitals, with Moscow emphasising the need for any action to respect sovereignty and international law.
Nigeria has already rejected US claims about the prosecution of Christians in the country.
Nigeria’s top diplomat this week also warned against efforts to destabilise his country
“What we are trying to make the world understand is that we should not create another Sudan,” Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar said on Tuesday.
“We've seen what has happened with Sudan, with agitations for the partitioning of Sudan based on religion, based on tribal sentiments,” he said.