African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)

____________________

The African Union (AU) has expressed concern over the recent allegations by U.S. President Donald Trump over the Nigerian government's complicity in the targeted killing of Christians.

In a statement issued late Friday, the AU Commission rejected any threat of unilateral military action against Africa's most populous nation, reiterating its "unwavering commitment" to Nigeria's sovereignty and its constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.

The 55-member continental bloc emphasised the principles of sovereignty, non-interference, religious freedom, and the rule of law, as enshrined in the AU Constitutive Act and related instruments.

"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 statement read.

It followed a recent social media post by Trump, in which he alleged that thousands of Christians are being killed in Nigeria by "radical Islamists," who are responsible for "this mass slaughter." The U.S. president also declared Nigeria a "country of particular concern."

The Nigerian government had earlier dismissed the U.S. designation as "inaccurate," while reaffirming its commitment to protecting citizens, maintaining religious freedom, and tackling violent extremism.

"Any external engagement must respect Nigeria's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity," the AU Commission said, underscoring full respect for Nigeria's sovereign right to manage its internal affairs, including security, religious freedom, and human rights, in line with its constitution and international obligations.

It urged external partners, including the United States, to engage Nigeria through diplomatic dialogue, intelligence-sharing, and capacity-building partnerships rather than resorting to unilateral threats of military intervention, which could undermine continental peace, regional stability, and AU norms for peaceful conflict management.