The African Union Commission (AUC) has reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s sovereignty, religious freedom, and rule of law, following recent statements from the United States alleging that the Nigerian government is complicit in targeted attacks against Christians and warning of possible military action.
In a statement released from its headquarters in Addis Ababa, the AUC underscored that Nigeria remains a “valued and longstanding member” of the African Union, playing a pivotal role in regional stability, counterterrorism, and continental peacekeeping operations.
The Commission reiterated that it “fully respects Nigeria’s sovereign right to manage its internal affairs,” including security and human rights matters, in accordance with its Constitution and international obligations.
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It stressed that any external engagement with Nigeria must uphold the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity, as enshrined in the AU Constitutive Act.
“The AUC reaffirms that Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and belief, and the government rejects all forms of religious persecution,” the statement noted, adding that the country faces “complex and multi-layered security challenges” that affect citizens of all faiths.
The Commission called for strengthened regional and international cooperation to help Nigeria and other African states build capacity to tackle violent extremism, banditry, communal conflicts, and other sources of instability.
Rejecting attempts to “weaponize religion” or oversimplify Nigeria’s internal security issues, the AU warned that framing violence solely along religious lines risks distorting realities and fueling further division.
“The African Union rejects any narrative that conflates all violence with a single religious-target framework. Such approaches hinder effective solutions and may destabilize communities,” the AUC stated.
It further urged international partners, particularly the United States to adopt a diplomatic approach rooted in dialogue, intelligence-sharing, and capacity-building support rather than unilateral threats of military action.
“Unilateral threats undermine regional stability, continental peace, and established AU norms for peaceful conflict management,” the Commission warned.
The statement reaffirmed the AU’s readiness to continue supporting Nigeria through its peace and security architecture, governance frameworks, and partnership mechanisms designed to promote peace, security, human rights, and development across the continent.
