Quiet Diplomacy Advances Biafra Advocacy in Washington
IPOB-Linked Envoys Engage U.S. Lawmakers on Kanu Detention, Self-Determination
Washington, D.C.
Amid growing international attention on the agitation for self-determination in Nigeria’s South-East, advocacy efforts linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are reportedly continuing through quiet diplomatic engagements in the United States, away from public rallies and media spectacle.
A recently circulated video shows author and business strategist Mark Faust, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, alongside Chief Evans Nwankwo, a representative of Ambassadors for Self-Determination, during a visit to Washington, D.C. The group is said to be operating under the broader strategic direction of IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who remains in detention in Nigeria.
According to sources familiar with the engagements, the delegation has been holding discussions with U.S. lawmakers, policy advisers, and opinion leaders, drawing attention to concerns surrounding the continued detention of Kanu, alleged violations of due process, and claims of persecution affecting Judeo-Christian communities in parts of Nigeria.
Observers note that the approach contrasts with more publicized lobbying efforts, emphasizing sustained dialogue and policy engagement rather than publicity campaigns. Advocates involved in the initiative argue that lasting international support is built on credibility, legal argument, and moral persuasion rather than financial influence.
The discussions also reportedly focus on the need for a peaceful and lawful resolution to long-standing grievances in the South-East, including renewed calls for dialogue on self-determination within the framework of international law.
While Nigerian authorities have consistently maintained that Kanu’s detention is a matter of national security and ongoing legal process, the issue continues to attract global scrutiny, particularly among human rights organizations and diaspora groups.
As engagements quietly continue from U.S. cities such as Cincinnati to the corridors of Capitol Hill, analysts say the unfolding advocacy underscores the increasing internationalization of the Biafra question—an issue that remains one of the most sensitive and closely watched in Nigeria’s contemporary political landscape.
