Mirian Gom 
African Union headquarters issuing statement reaffirming Nigeria’s sovereignty.
ABUJA, Nigeria – The African Union Commission (AUC) has reaffirmed its support for Nigeria’s sovereignty and religious freedom, rejecting recent statements from the United States suggesting Nigerian complicity in violence against Christians and hinting at potential military intervention.
In a statement released on Friday via its official X channel, the AUC emphasised the need for diplomatic dialogue rather than unilateral threats.
“The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a longstanding and valued Member State of the African Union, playing a key role in regional stability,” the Commission said.
The AU stressed that Nigeria retains the sovereign right to manage its internal security affairs, adding that external narratives must not oversimplify or politicise complex conflicts.
“The AUC rejects any narrative that weaponises religion or oversimplifies Nigeria’s security landscape. Conflating all violence with a single religious-target narrative may hinder effective solutions,” the Commission warned.
The Commission acknowledged that Nigeria faces multi-layered security challenges, including terrorism, communal conflicts, and criminal banditry, which affect citizens “of all faiths and communities.”
The statement comes after remarks attributed to former U.S. President Donald Trump on 1 November, where he claimed he had instructed the Pentagon to explore “possible military measures” to protect Christian communities in Nigeria.
In response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called on Washington to act responsibly: “We are closely monitoring this issue and call on all parties involved to strictly comply with international legal norms.”
The AUC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria in pursuing peace, human rights protection, and national development through collaborative—not coercive—international engagement.
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