The African Union (AU) has dismissed allegations by U.S. President Donald Trump that “very large numbers” of Christians are being killed in northern Nigeria, saying there is no genocide taking place in Africa’s most populous country.
Speaking at the United Nations in New York on Wednesday, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf urged caution over the U.S. president’s statements, saying the violence in Nigeria cannot be compared to atrocities in other conflict zones.
“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 parts of eastern DRC,” Youssouf said. “The first victims of Boko Haram are Muslims, not Christians. Think twice before making such statements.”
Trump had earlier threatened to launch “fast” military action if Nigeria failed to stop what he called mass killings of Christians, warning he might cut all U.S. aid to Abuja.
The Nigerian government responded by reaffirming its commitment to combating violent extremism and protecting all citizens “irrespective of race, creed, or religion.”
Boko Haram’s 15-year insurgency has killed tens of thousands in northeast Nigeria, where human rights experts say most victims have been Muslims.
Nigeria, a nation of over 200 million people and more than 200 ethnic groups, is religiously diverse, with Christianity, Islam, and traditional faiths practiced widely.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
