The African Union (AU) has dismissed US President Donald Trump’s claim that Christians in northern Nigeria are facing “genocide” and an imminent “existential threat” from jihadist groups.
Naijaonpoint reports that AU Commission chair, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, made the clarification during a press briefing on Wednesday in New York, warning that such statements oversimplify a complex crisis.
Trump had, earlier this month, alleged that radical Islamists were killing Christians “in very large numbers” and insisted that the United States would intervene militarily if Nigeria failed to stop the violence.
He warned that the attack would be “fast, vicious, and sweet,” sparking global concern and diplomatic debate.
Youssouf, however, insisted that the portrayal was inaccurate and risked inflaming tensions.
“There is no genocide in northern Nigeria,” he said plainly. “The complexity of the situation in northern Nigeria should push us to think twice before making such statements.”
The AU chief explained that Nigeria’s insurgency is multifaceted and does not fit the narrative of a religion-targeted extermination. He stressed that the jihadist insurgency affects all communities regardless of faith.
“The first victims of Boko Haram, the most prominent jihadist group in the region, are Muslims, not Christians,” Youssouf said.
He noted that northern Nigeria has endured over a decade of violence driven by extremist ideology, poverty, criminality, and governance challenges — not a single-faith war.
Nigeria, home to more than 230 million people, remains split almost evenly between a predominantly Christian south and a Muslim-majority north. The country has been battling numerous security crises, including:
- Jihadist insurgencies
- Banditry
- Farmer-herder conflicts
- Communal clashes
These conflicts often kill victims indiscriminately, with both Christians and Muslims suffering significant losses.
Boko Haram, which launched its violent campaign in 2009, has killed more than 40,000 people and displaced over two million, according to United Nations estimates.
Naijaonpoint reorts that Trump’s comments have triggered debate across diplomatic circles, religious bodies, and civil society groups.
While some view the remarks as drawing needed attention to attacks in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and North-East, others, like the African Union, insist that the framing risks distorting facts and deepening mistrust among religious communities.
Youssouf reiterated the AU’s position that inflammatory rhetoric must be avoided at all costs.
He said the union remains committed to helping Nigeria find long-term solutions to insecurity through cooperation, intelligence sharing, and regional security frameworks.
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