The African Union Commission (AUC) has reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s sovereignty, religious freedom, and the rule of law in response to recent statements by the United States suggesting Nigerian complicity in attacks against Christians and threatening possible military action. The commission, in a press release issued on Friday via its official X account, emphasised the importance of diplomacy and constructive engagement over military threats.
The AUC underscored the need to respect Nigeria’s right to manage its internal affairs without external interference, stressing that any external engagement must uphold Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The statement read: “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 commission added that it “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.”
Addressing concerns about alleged religious persecution, the AUC supported Nigeria’s repeated affirmation that its constitution guarantees freedom of religion and belief, and that the government rejects all forms of religious persecution.The AU also acknowledged the complex security challenges facing Nigeria, noting that the country faces issues like violent extremism, banditry, communal clashes, and resource-based conflicts, which affect citizens of all faiths.
The commission cautioned against framing the country’s security problems solely as religiously motivated, rejecting what it described as “divisive and simplistic” narratives. The AUC warned that “Conflating all violence with a single religious-target narrative may hinder effective solutions and destabilise communities.” It called for regional and international cooperation to strengthen capacities to protect citizens and uphold human rights, while rejecting any narrative that weaponises religion or oversimplifies security challenges.
The AUC appealed to international partners, including the United States, to adopt a cooperative approach. It urged external partners “to engage Nigeria through diplomatic dialogue, intelligence sharing, and capacity-building partnerships, while respecting Nigerian sovereignty.” The commission cautioned that resorting to unilateral threats of military intervention could undermine continental peace, regional stability, and AU norms for peaceful conflict management. The AU reaffirmed its readiness to support Nigeria through peace and security mechanisms and strategic partnerships.
