Source: Africa Publicity
The African Union Commission (AUC) has reaffirmed its “unwavering commitment to the principles of sovereignty, non-interference, religious freedom, and the rule of law,” following recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump accusing the Nigerian government of complicity in mass killings of Christians and threatening possible military intervention.
In a strongly worded statement titled “African Union Commission Reaffirms Commitment to Nigeria’s Sovereignty, Religious Freedom, and Rule of Law,” the continental body expressed concern over “recent statements by the United States of America alleging that the Government of Nigeria is complicit in the targeted killing of Christians and threatening military action.”
Trump, in a series of public comments and social media posts last week, claimed that “mass killings of Christians in Nigeria” were being ignored by the international community, warning that “Christianity faces existential threats” across parts of Africa. He further suggested that the U.S. “may not stand idly by,” raising fears of possible unilateral military moves.
The African Union’s response appeared to be a direct rebuttal to these remarks, emphasizing Nigeria’s sovereignty and its constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.
“The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a longstanding and valued Member State of the African Union, playing a key role in regional stability, counter-terrorism, peacekeeping initiatives, and continental integration,” the AUC stated.
It added that the Commission “fully respects Nigeria’s sovereign right to manage its internal affairs, including security, religious freedom, and human rights, in line with its Constitution and international obligations,” stressing that “any external engagement must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity.”
The AUC also voiced support for Nigeria’s repeated affirmation that its constitution “guarantees freedom of religion and belief and that the Government rejects all forms of religious persecution.”
Acknowledging the country’s complex security challenges, the Commission noted that Nigeria faces threats “affecting citizens of all faiths, including violent extremist groups, banditry, communal violence, and resource-based conflicts.” It called for “regional, and international cooperation to support Nigeria and other African countries in strengthening capacity to respond to insecurity, protect all citizens, uphold human rights, and bring perpetrators of violence to justice.”
Rejecting what it called “any narrative that weaponizes religion or oversimplifies security challenges,” the AUC warned that “conflating all violence with a single religious-target narrative may hinder effective solutions and destabilize communities.”
In a pointed message to Washington, the Commission urged “external partners, including the United States, to engage Nigeria through diplomatic dialogue, intelligence-sharing, and capacity-building partnerships, while respecting Nigerian sovereignty rather than resorting to unilateral threats of military intervention, which could undermine continental peace, regional stability, and AU norms for peaceful conflict management.”
The African Union concluded by reaffirming that it “remains committed to supporting Member States in promoting peace, security, human rights, and development, while upholding sovereignty and non-interference.”
The statement underscores growing tensions between the AU and Washington following Trump’s controversial comments, as African leaders rally to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty and the continent’s principle of non-interference in domestic affairs.
