Recent reports suggest Trump’s new Chief of Staff may have past connections with IPOB. Explore the potential implications and what this could mean for U.S. foreign relations.
According to available records, Susie Wiles, who was recently appointed as Chief of Staff by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, previously co-chaired a lobbying firm that worked closely with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in 2019.
After securing a major election victory against Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump appointed his campaign manager, Susie Wiles, as Chief of Staff. This appointment marks the first time a woman has held this position.
“Susie Wiles played a crucial role in securing one of the most significant political victories in American history for me and was vital to my successful campaigns in both 2016 and 2020,” Trump announced. “She is tough, smart, innovative, and widely respected. Susie will continue her relentless efforts to Make America Great Again,” he added.
Wiles has a professional background as a lobbyist for several clients. Earlier this year, she represented Swisher International, a tobacco company, promoting its interests in Congress regarding “FDA regulations,” based on Senate filings. She now serves as co-chair of Mercury Public Affairs, a position she’s held since February 2022. Prior to this role, she was with Ballard Partners, a lobbying firm established by Trump ally Brian Ballard.
Her lobbying portfolio features companies like Alliance Resource Partners, Bankers Financial Corporation, General Motors, Zeta Global, and Origin Logistics.
Further investigation shows that in 2019, IPOB engaged Wiles’ former firm to lobby the U.S. Congress and State Department with a focus on “promoting human rights and democracy” in Nigeria. A report from Foreignlobby.com states that Mercury Public Affairs had an $85,000 monthly contract with IPOB; however, filings with the U.S. Department of Justice disclosed total payments amounting to $254,000 for the preceding year.
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Reports suggest that Trump’s election victory has sparked optimism among pro-Biafran groups for achieving an independent Biafra. After his win, messages of celebration were shared within Biafran advocacy circles. One WhatsApp message linked to the movement described President Donald Trump’s triumph as a source of inspiration for Biafrans worldwide.
Following Trump’s victory, Simon Ekpa, who claims to be the prime minister of Biafra, expressed his excitement on X. He stated: “As a reemerging nation, the United States of Biafra anticipates the USA’s dedication to upholding self-determination and allowing people to choose their own form of government.” Meanwhile, another activist commented online: “Biafrans are ready for independence. We have endured oppression under Nigeria’s oppressive regime. The time for freedom is now.”
The area historically linked with the Republic of Biafra is situated in eastern Nigeria and is primarily inhabited by the Igbo people.
In 2020, IPOB asserted that its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was invited as a special guest by the Republican Party in Iowa to attend a Trump campaign event. Four years prior, Kanu had written to then-president-elect Trump urging his support for Biafra’s quest for independence and compared this pursuit to Trump’s backing of Brexit in the U.K.
