The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has rejected claims suggesting that acts of genocide are being perpetrated against Christians or any religious group within the region.
The regional bloc described such allegations as misleading and potentially harmful to the fragile peace and unity of West African nations.
In a statement released late Tuesday through its official X (formerly Twitter) account, ECOWAS argued that terrorist violence in the region affects people of all faiths and backgrounds, emphasising that the conflicts are not driven by religion.
“Perpetrators of violence in our region attack innocent civilians irrespective of their faith, gender, ethnicity, or age.
“Independent assessments over the years have shown that terrorist activities in West Africa are not discriminatory in nature, ” the communiqué read.
The organisation warned that claims of targeted genocide risk fueling division among communities and could further exacerbate insecurity in member states already battling terrorism and instability.
“We call on the United Nations and international partners to stand with our member countries in their efforts to combat terrorism.
”Assertions that one group is being specifically targeted amount to falsehoods intended to undermine social cohesion, ” the communique added.
The response followed remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently announced that Nigeria had been designated a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under U.S. law due to alleged persecution of Christians.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, accused the Nigerian government of allowing the mass killing of Christians and threatened military intervention if the situation persisted.
“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S. will stop all aid and may take military action,” Trump said. “Any response will be fast, vicious, and decisive.”
Nigeria’s Federal Government, however, has dismissed Trump’s accusations, reiterating its commitment to protecting the rights and freedoms of all religious groups.
Officials insisted that the country’s ongoing security challenges stem from terrorism and banditry, not religious persecution.
ECOWAS echoed that view, stressing that extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP target both Muslims and Christians, often attacking entire communities regardless of religious identity.
The bloc urged international observers to rely on verified information and to support collective security efforts instead of narratives that could inflame tensions.
The statement comes amid renewed efforts by ECOWAS to strengthen regional security cooperation, including plans to operationalize its long-proposed standby force to combat terrorism and transnational crime
