AU chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf told reporters at the U.N. that "there is no genocide in northern Nigeria," calling the violence complex and noting Boko Haram has also killed many Muslims. Christian leaders and some U.S. lawmakers dispute that view, saying attacks on Christians have reached crisis levels. Sen. Ted Cruz and other Republicans accused Nigerian officials of deflecting blame, while a White House official warned of cutting aid and possible military measures. The U.N. described the violence as part of a broader insurgency affecting people of all faiths and urged coordinated assistance.
AU Chair Rejects Genocide Claims in Nigeria as U.S. Officials Threaten Sanctions and Possible Action
AU chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf told reporters at the U.N. that "there is no genocide in northern Nigeria," calling the violence complex and noting Boko Haram has also killed many Muslims. Christian leaders and some U.S. lawmakers dispute that view, saying attacks on Christians have reached crisis levels. Sen. Ted Cruz and other Republicans accused Nigerian officials of deflecting blame, while a White House official warned of cutting aid and possible military measures. The U.N. described the violence as part of a broader insurgency affecting people of all faiths and urged coordinated assistance.
03:53 AM, 11/14/2025Security
African Union chair rejects genocide claims while U.S. officials issue stern warnings
Nigeria’s escalating security crisis has drawn renewed international attention after the African Union Commission chairman publicly dismissed allegations that Christians are being subjected to genocide — a statement that provoked strong reactions from senior U.S. officials and some lawmakers.
Speaking at United Nations headquarters, African Union Commission Chairman Mahmoud Ali Youssouf rejected genocide claims and cautioned against simplistic interpretations of the violence in northern Nigeria. From the U.N. podium he said,
“Let me say this first — there is no genocide in northern Nigeria.”
Youssouf added that the AU had issued a communication clarifying that the violence in northern Nigeria is not comparable to atrocities in Sudan or parts of eastern DRC. He also noted that, based on documented sources, “the first victims of Boko Haram are Muslims, not Christians,” and described the situation as “extremely complex,” urging international actors not to reduce it to a single narrative.
Christian groups and some U.S. lawmakers sharply disagreed with the AU chair’s assessment. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) accused Nigerian officials of running a public-relations campaign to deflect blame, arguing that certain policies — including enforcement of sharia in some areas and tolerance of Islamist violence — have contributed to an environment in which Christians face persecution and deadly attacks.
A senior White House official gave an even sterner warning, telling Fox News Digital that, “if the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria and may take action to degrade or defeat the Islamic militants who are committing these atrocities.” The official said the administration had designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” and had asked the Department of Defense to prepare contingency plans.
On Capitol Hill, some lawmakers urged additional measures. Rep. Riley Moore (R-W.Va.) said the United States could consider a range of options — from targeted sanctions to limited military measures — in response to what he characterized as the “genocide” of Christians. President Trump tapped Moore and Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) to lead an investigation into the killings of Christians by Islamist militants in Nigeria.
At the U.N. press briefing, Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the U.N. secretary-general, described the violence as part of a broader insurgency. “We believe that the Nigerian government has been struggling with an insurgency that has been killing people, whether Muslims, Christians or others,” he said, adding that international assistance should be coordinated with Nigerian authorities.
The exchange highlights sharply different international interpretations of the crisis: the AU chair’s insistence that the situation does not meet the threshold of genocide versus calls from some U.S. officials for stronger punitive measures and possible military responses. Observers say improving security, protecting civilians of all faiths, and pursuing credible investigations will be critical to addressing the humanitarian and political dimensions of the conflict.