The African Union (AU) has rejected United States President Donald Trump’s military threat action, instead urging a path of diplomatic dialogue with Nigeria to resolve escalating tensions over security and alleged religious persecution.
The AU Commission emphasized the importance of respecting Nigeria’s sovereignty and warned that Trump’s military threat action could undermine continental peace efforts.
This was contained in a press statement issued in a press statement on Friday via its official X account.
The statement from the AU Commission followed Trump’s military threat actions, also threatening to cut off aid to Nigeria over claims of a “mass slaughter” of Christians by radical Islamists.
The statement reads in part: “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 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.
“The commission supports Nigeria’s repeated affirmation that its Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and belief, and that the government rejects all forms of religious persecution.
“Nigeria faces complex security challenges affecting citizens of all faiths.
“The AUC rejects any narrative that weaponises religion or oversimplifies security challenges. Conflating all violence with a single religious-target narrative may hinder effective solutions and destabilise communities.
“The AUC urges external partners, including the United States, to engage Nigeria through diplomatic dialogue, intelligence sharing, and capacity-building partnerships, while respecting Nigerian sovereignty. Resorting to unilateral threats of military intervention could undermine continental peace, regional stability, and AU norms for peaceful conflict management.
“The African Union Commission remains committed to supporting Member States in promoting peace, security, human rights, and development, while upholding sovereignty and non-interference.”
Recall that on November 1, Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, announcing that he had directed the Pentagon to draw up “options for possible military measures” against terrorist groups in Nigeria, claiming the move was aimed at protecting Christian communities.
Trump added that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening,” pledging that his administration was “ready, willing, and able to protect our great Christian population around the world.
“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby designating Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern,’” he wrote.
Following Trump’s military threat action, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also urged Washington to act responsibly and in line with international law.
“We are closely monitoring this issue and call on all parties involved to strictly comply with international legal norms,” she said.
Recall also that the European Union (EU) had expressed solidarity with Nigeria, rejecting Trump’s military threat action.
Gautier Mignot, the EU ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, made the organisation’s position known in an interview in Lagos.
Mignot stressed that the EU’s position is guided by its long-standing partnership with Nigeria rather than reactions to external political statements.
He said: “Our position is one of solidarity with Nigeria. Solidarity with the victims of violence, with the authorities working to protect citizens, and with the Nigerian people who overwhelmingly desire peaceful coexistence beyond ethnic and religious divides. We respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and constitutional commitment to religious neutrality.”
