African Union Rejects Christian Genocide Claims in Nigeria After Trump Threats

The African Union (AU) has firmly dismissed allegations of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, countering recent claims and implied threats of U.S. military intervention made by President Donald Trump.

Speaking at a United Nations press conference on Wednesday, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf described the allegations as “dangerously misleading” and warned against external narratives that could inflame tensions in Nigeria.

“There is no evidence of a systematic campaign aimed at exterminating Christians in Nigeria,” Youssouf stated. “Extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP have, in fact, targeted far more Muslims than Christians since their insurgency began in 2009.”

AU: Violence Is Terrorism, Not Religious Cleansing

Youssouf explained that the AU continues to monitor the security situation in Nigeria’s northeast, where Boko Haram’s insurgency remains active. He stressed that the violence does not fit the definition of genocide and should instead be understood as “indiscriminate terrorism driven by extremist ideology, not religious policy.”

Nigeria Agrees with AU Position

The Nigerian government has also rejected Trump’s characterization of events. Officials say that both Christian and Muslim communities have suffered, and that framing the conflict as a religious war undermines counterterrorism cooperation.

AU Warns Against Foreign Military Intervention

Responding to Trump’s threat of possible military action to “protect Christians,” Youssouf urged the U.S. to avoid unilateral decisions.

“Nigeria is a sovereign state. Any intervention must be coordinated with African institutions and grounded in facts, not political sentiment,” he said.

He added that mischaracterizing Nigeria’s complex security challenges could worsen religious tensions and derail stabilization efforts.

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