The African Union Commission (AUC) on Friday strongly condemned recent threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to carry out military action against Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians, highlighting the importance of respecting the country’s sovereignty and internal affairs.
In a statement issued from its headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Commission expressed concern over what it described as “external threats and unfounded allegations” targeting a member state. It reiterated its commitment to the principles of sovereignty, non-interference, and the rule of law, as enshrined in the AU Constitutive Act.
“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 statement read.
The AUC stressed that any engagement with Nigeria, or any African nation must fully respect its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity.
“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,” it added.
The Commission also supported Nigeria’s repeated assurances that freedom of religion and belief is guaranteed under its Constitution, noting that the government has consistently rejected all forms of religious persecution.
“Nigeria faces complex security challenges affecting citizens of all faiths, including violent extremism, banditry, and communal violence. Conflating all violence with a single religious narrative may hinder effective solutions and destabilize communities,” the AUC stated.
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While urging international cooperation to strengthen regional peace and security, the AU warned that unilateral military threats or interventions by external powers could destabilize the continent.
“The AUC urges external partners, including the United States, to engage Nigeria through diplomatic dialogue, intelligence-sharing, and capacity-building partnerships.
“Resorting to unilateral threats of military intervention would only weaken peace efforts and contradict the principles of peaceful conflict management,” it said.
Reaffirming its support for African-led solutions, the Commission highlighted its readiness to assist Nigeria through peace and security mechanisms and capacity-building initiatives.
“The African Union Commission remains steadfast in supporting Member States to promote peace, human rights, and development while upholding sovereignty and non-interference,” the statement concluded.
