Amanze Chinonye
South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has strongly condemned the United States’ airstrikes carried out on Nigerian soil on December 25, 2025, describing the action as a dangerous escalation of American military imperialism in Africa and a violation of Nigeria’s sovereignty, Prime Business Africa reports.
In a statement issued on Friday, the South African opposition party criticised U.S. President Donald Trump for publicly announcing and celebrating the strikes, which targeted locations in northwest Nigeria, particularly Sokoto State.
Trump had described the operation as “powerful and deadly” attacks against what he termed Islamic State (ISIL) targets, framing the intervention as a response to violence against Christians.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe EFF rejected this justification, arguing that the U.S. narrative deliberately oversimplifies and distorts Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
READ ALSO : U.S-Nigeria Joint Airstrikes on ISIS in Sokoto Kill Many Terrorists
‘Numerous Perfect Strikes’ – Trump Responds to ISIS Attacks with Sokoto Airstrikes
According to the party, violence in northern Nigeria is rooted in poverty, state fragility, land dispossession and long-standing instability, and has affected Christians, Muslims and traditional communities alike. It said reducing the crisis to a religious conflict amounts to “dishonest and reckless” propaganda aimed at legitimising foreign military intervention.
The party further criticised Washington’s repeated use of the “ISIL-linked” label across Africa and the Middle East, warning that such branding has historically been used to justify military actions that leave behind civilian casualties, destroyed states and prolonged instability. It described the Nigerian airstrikes as part of a familiar pattern in which regions are declared open to foreign bombardment with little accountability.
Equally criticised was the response of the Nigerian government. The EFF said Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs failed to assert the country’s sovereignty, instead issuing what it described as a submissive statement praising security cooperation with the United States and characterising the airstrikes as lawful and precise. This, the party argued, signals that African states can be pressured into legitimising foreign military action on their own territory.
Warning Nigeria of the long-term consequences, the EFF said the United States has no record of interventions that are mutually beneficial, claiming such actions are typically driven by imperial interests including regime change and the exploitation of natural resources. It alleged that U.S. interests in Nigeria are linked to oil, drawing parallels with Washington’s actions in Venezuela, which it described as piracy under the guise of counter-terrorism and anti-drug operations.
The EFF said the airstrikes should be seen as a warning to the entire African continent, cautioning that Nigeria must not become a gateway for U.S. imperial influence. It also linked the situation to what it described as growing U.S. hostility towards South Africa, particularly over Pretoria’s stance on Palestine.
Reaffirming its solidarity with the Nigerian people, the EFF called on African governments, regional bodies such as ECOWAS and the African Union, and progressive movements to intervene diplomatically. It warned that failure to resist now could once again turn Africa into a battlefield for foreign powers “seeking relevance through destruction.”
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
