African Union warns against oversimplifying northern Nigeria violence amid Trump threats
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf stresses that while northern Nigeria faces violence and insecurity, the situation does not meet the legal definition of genocide, and warns against misrepresenting the facts.
African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has dismissed claims of genocide in northern Nigeria, rejecting recent allegations by US President Donald Trump that large numbers of Christians are being killed in the country.
Speaking to reporters at the United Nations in New York, Youssouf stressed that the situation in northern Nigeria is complex and cannot be compared to atrocities in Sudan or eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
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“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,” said Mahmoud.
"I think the complexity of the situation in northern Nigeria should, you know, push us to think twice before declaring or making such statements," he added.
The AUC chair emphasised that Muslims, not Christians, are the first victims of Boko Haram attacks, citing documented evidence, and cautioned against oversimplifying the situation.
"The first victims of Boko Haram are Muslims, not Christians. The first victims, and I'm saying it with documented references," said Mahmoud.
"The complexity in the northern part of Nigeria should not be taken lightly. The African continent is very complex. It’s not easy to describe those situations with very simple words that can be used in an unreasonable way,” he added.
AU position clear
He reiterated that the African Union’s official position is clear: “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 AU remarks come amid heightened international attention on Nigeria following Trump’s threats of military action.
On Saturday, November 1, 2025, Trump warned that the U.S. would immediately halt all aid and could deploy troops or carry out airstrikes if the Nigerian government failed to act against the killings of Christians.
“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 posted on social media.
“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!”
The US president’s threat followed Nigeria being added back to a “Countries of Particular Concern” list of nations accused of violating religious freedoms. Other countries on the list include China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, and Pakistan.
On Sunday, November 2, aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters he was considering multiple 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 stance contrasts sharply with Trump’s allegations, emphasising that while northern Nigeria faces insecurity and insurgency, the situation does not meet the legal definition of genocide.
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