Trump Selects Susie Wiles as Chief of Staff; Biafra Supporters Celebrate Victory
Days after his victory in the tight U.S. presidential race against Vice-President Kamala Harris, President-elect Donald Trump has announced the appointment of his campaign manager, Susie Wiles, as his incoming Chief of Staff. Wiles, a pivotal figure in Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns, becomes the first woman to hold this influential role in his administration.
In his statement, Trump praised Wiles for her strategic acumen, saying, “Susie Wiles just helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history… She is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected.”
Wiles’ career profile includes a significant lobbying background. She was previously co-chair at Mercury Public Affairs, where she advocated for various clients, including tobacco company Swisher International, General Motors, and coal company Alliance Resource Partners. Mercury, a firm known for its connections to political figures, has represented the interests of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist movement from southeastern Nigeria. IPOB’s contract with Mercury, signed in 2019, involved lobbying the U.S. Congress and State Department for “the promotion of human rights and democracy” in Nigeria, with an engagement reportedly costing $85,000 per month.
IPOB’s lobbying ties to Mercury have fueled hopes among some Biafran supporters, who view Trump’s victory as an encouraging signal for their independence movement. Following Trump’s election win, Biafran activists, including Finland-based Simon Ekpa, expressed optimism that the U.S. would support their cause. Ekpa, who claims to be the Biafra “prime minister,” issued a statement on social media expressing hope for a renewed American commitment to “self-determination and the freedom of people to choose their own form of government.”
IPOB has a longstanding affinity with Trump and his policies. In 2020, reports indicated that Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB’s leader, was invited as a guest to a Trump campaign rally in Iowa. The movement has often drawn parallels between their separatist aspirations and other independence movements around the world.
The renewed enthusiasm among Biafran supporters following Trump’s victory reflects a broader sense of support for self-determination that IPOB hopes to gain internationally. However, critics have raised concerns about Trump’s relationship with African political issues and the potential implications of IPOB’s U.S.-based lobbying efforts, especially as regional leaders in Nigeria have viewed IPOB’s activities with caution.
As Trump prepares to take office, Wiles’ role will likely continue to draw attention due to her past affiliations and her impact on U.S. policy both domestically and abroad, particularly in light of her connection with IPOB.
