AU reaffirms support for Nigeria’s sovereignty

… urges US to respect diplomatic channels

The African Union Commission (AUC) has reaffirmed its “unwavering commitment” to the principles of sovereignty, religious freedom, and the rule of law, while cautioning against any external interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs.

In a statement issued from its headquarters in Addis Ababa, the AUC said it was “deeply concerned” by recent remarks from the United States alleging that the Nigerian government is complicit in the killing of Christians and threatening military action.

“The African Union Commission reiterates its unwavering commitment to the principles of sovereignty, non-interference, religious freedom, and the rule of law, as enshrined in the African Union Constitutive Act and related instruments,” the Commission stated.

It described Nigeria as 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 Commission stressed that Nigeria’s government retains the sovereign right to manage its internal affairs, including issues of security, religious freedom, and human rights, in line with its Constitution and international obligations.

“The AUC fully respects Nigeria’s sovereign right to manage its internal affairs,” the statement continued. “Any external engagement must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity.”

The Commission also backed Nigeria’s position that its Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and belief. “The Commission supports Nigeria’s repeated affirmation that its Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and belief and that the Government rejects all forms of religious persecution,” it said.

Acknowledging Nigeria’s complex security challenges, the AUC noted that violence in the country affects citizens of all faiths. “Nigeria faces complex security challenges affecting citizens of all faiths, including violent extremist groups, banditry, communal violence, and resource-based conflicts,” the statement explained.

It called for stronger regional and international cooperation to help Nigeria and other African countries “strengthen capacity to respond to insecurity, protect all citizens, uphold human rights, and bring perpetrators of violence to justice.”

The Commission further rejected “narratives that weaponise religion or oversimplify security challenges,” warning that “conflating all violence with a single religious-target narrative may hinder effective solutions and destabilise communities.”

In a direct appeal to Washington, the AUC urged the U.S. and other external partners to pursue constructive engagement with Abuja rather than unilateral threats.

“AUC urges 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,” the statement said.

It cautioned that such threats “could undermine continental peace, regional stability, and AU norms for peaceful conflict management.”

Reiterating its broader mission, the AUC concluded, “The African Union Commission remains committed to supporting Member States in promoting peace, security, human rights, and development, while upholding sovereignty and non-interference.”

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