The African Union Commission has called for careful evaluation of the situation in northern Nigeria, rejecting claims of genocide made by US President Donald Trump.
AU Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf emphasized that the ongoing violence in the region is highly complex and cannot be equated with mass atrocities seen in other African countries.
Speaking to journalists at the United Nations in New York, Mahmoud said, “There is no genocide in northern Nigeria. We have issued a communiqué making clear that what’s going on in the northern part of Nigeria has nothing to do with the kind of atrocities we see in Sudan or in some parts of eastern DRC.”
He stressed that the security crisis in the north affects primarily Muslim communities, who are often the first victims of Boko Haram attacks. “The first victims of Boko Haram are Muslims, not Christians.
The first victims, and I'm saying it with documented references,” Mahmoud clarified, highlighting the importance of accurate reporting.
“The situation in northern Nigeria is complex and should not be described using oversimplified language,” he added. “Africa is a diverse continent, and it’s not easy to explain these situations in simple terms that can be misused or misinterpreted.”
Mahmoud reiterated that the African Union’s official stance is consistent: “We made it clear in our statement and communiqué, and we would like really to stress again that there is no genocide in northern Nigeria.”
The remarks come after Trump threatened military intervention over the reported killings of Christians in Nigeria.
On November 1, 2025, he warned that the United States could immediately halt aid and even launch strikes if the Nigerian government failed to act against the violence.
“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump wrote on social media.
He further instructed the Department of War to prepare for possible action, adding that any attack would be “fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!”
Trump’s warnings followed Nigeria’s return to a “Countries of Particular Concern” list, which flags nations accused of violating religious freedoms. Other countries on this list include China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, and Pakistan.
On November 2, aboard Air Force One, Trump indicated that he was exploring various options, saying, “Could be. I mean, other things. I envisage a lot of things. They're killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria ... We're not going to allow that to happen.”
The African Union’s position underscores the difference between international perception and on-the-ground realities.
While insecurity and attacks persist in northern Nigeria, AU officials insist the legal threshold for genocide has not been met, urging global actors to approach the situation with care and nuance.
