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The African Union (AU) Commission says the US must respect the sovereignty of Nigeria and engage in diplomatic dialogue to address the country’s insecurity.
The AU commission’s comment follows the redesignation of Nigeria by US President Donald Trump as a ‘country of particular concern’ over allegations of Christian genocide in the country and the threat of a military action to wipe out Islamic terrorists.
However, in a statement released on Friday, the AU commission said it has noted with concern “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.”
The commission said it acknowledged the complex security challenges facing Africa’s most populous country and called for enhanced regional and international cooperation to support Nigeria and other nations in strengthening their capacity to address insecurity.
The commission rejected narratives that oversimplify the challenges by attributing violence solely to religious motives, warning that such perspectives could destabilise communities and hinder effective solutions.
It urged external partners, including the US, to prioritise diplomatic engagement, intelligence-sharing, and capacity-building initiatives over unilateral military threats.
The commission said respecting Nigeria’s sovereignty is essential to maintaining continental peace, regional stability, and adherence to AU principles of peaceful conflict resolution.
“The commission notes with concern 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,” the statement reads.
“The AUC emphasises the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a longstanding and valued Member State of the African Union, playing a key role in regional stability, counterterrorism, peacekeeping initiatives, and continental integration.
“The AUC 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. Any external engagement must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity.
“AUC urges 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.”
