Terrorism: AU Pledges Support For Nigeria, Urges US, Others To Share Intelligence
By Sunday Etuka
The African Union Commission (AUC) has assured Nigeria of its unwavering support to win the ongoing war against terrorism in the country.
AU, in a statement on Friday, also reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s sovereignty, religious freedom, and rule of law.
The Commission was reacting to the recent statements by the United States of America alleging that the Government of Nigeria is complicit in the targeted killing of Christians and threatening military action.
It noted that 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.
AUC said it fully respects Nigeria’s sovereign right to manage its internal affairs, including security, religious freedom, and human rights, in line with its Constitution and international obligations. Therefore, it said any external engagement must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity.
The Commission also said it supports Nigeria’s repeated affirmation that its Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and belief and that the Government rejects all forms of religious persecution.
While acknowledging that Nigeria faces complex security challenges affecting citizens of all faiths, including violent extremist groups, banditry, communal violence, and resource-based conflicts, the AUC called for regional, and international cooperation to support Nigeria and other African countries, in strengthening capacity to respond to insecurity, protect all citizens, uphold human rights, and bring perpetrators of violence to justice.
The Commission said it remains ready to provide support through its peace and security architecture, capacity building programs, and strategic partnerships.
It said it rejects any narrative that weaponizes religion or oversimplifies security challenges, noting that conflating all violence with a single religious target narrative may hinder effective solutions and destabilize communities.
It, therefore, urged external partners, including the United States, to engage Nigeria through diplomatic dialogue, intelligence sharing, and capacity building partnerships, while respecting Nigerian sovereignty rather than resorting to unilateral threats of military intervention, which could undermine continental peace, regional stability, and AU norms for peaceful conflict management.
The AUC said it remains committed to supporting Member States in promoting peace, security, human rights, and development, while upholding sovereignty and non-interference.
