On Thursday, November 12^th, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, will chair his fourteenth congressional hearing on the religious persecution of Christians by radical Islamist groups in Nigeria, as well as the Nigerian government’s efforts to mitigate the violence and protect vulnerable communities in the Middle Belt.

WHAT: Congressional hearing that assesses the current state of religious violence perpetrated by radical Islamists, such as Boko Haram and Fulani terrorists, against Christians in Nigeria; the Nigerian government’s efforts to curb the persecution and punish those responsible for committing atrocities against Christian and non-radical Muslim communities; and the steps the United States can take to ensure that Nigerian officials are addressing and preventing the systemic violence against Christians and non-radical Muslims by Islamist extremists.

WHEN: Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 11:00 AM

WITNESSES: (Partial list)

• Panel One

o   The Honorable Frank Garcia, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State

o   The Honorable Riley Barnes, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State

• Panel Two

o   Ms. Nina Shea, Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Religious Freedom, The Hudson Institute

o   Mr. Ryan Brown, CEO, Open Doors US

o   Ms. Oge Onubogu, Director and Senior Fellow, Africa Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies

WHERE: 2172 Rayburn House Office Building and livestreaming on YouTube

WHO: Chairman Chris Smith, other members of the HFAC Africa Subcommittee, and witnesses

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