The African Union (AU) has dismissed claims of genocide in northern Nigeria, following remarks by former US President Donald Trump, who suggested Christians in the region were facing an “existential threat” from jihadist attacks.
Trump, earlier this month, threatened potential armed intervention in Nigeria, claiming radical Islamist groups were killing “Christians in very large numbers.” He warned that if Nigeria did not curb the violence, the United States would respond with force, saying it “will be fast, vicious, and sweet.”
Responding to the allegations, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Chair of the African Union Commission, said at a press conference in New York on Wednesday, “There is no genocide in northern Nigeria.” He emphasized the need for careful consideration, adding: “The complexity of the situation in northern Nigeria should push us to think twice before making such statements.”
Youssouf highlighted that the primary victims of Boko Haram, the most prominent jihadist group in the region, are actually Muslims, not Christians.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with 230 million inhabitants, is divided roughly between a predominantly Christian south and a Muslim-majority north. The nation has experienced numerous violent conflicts, including jihadist insurgencies, which often affect both communities indiscriminately.
The Boko Haram insurgency, active since 2009, has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced more than two million people, according to UN figures.
The AU’s statement seeks to clarify the situation amid heightened international attention and warnings of foreign military involvement, underscoring the complexity of addressing violent extremism in Nigeria.
