The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has rejected allegations of genocide against any religious group in the region, describing such claims as attempts to sow division and destabilise West Africa.
In a statement released late Tuesday, November 4, the regional body said the claims were “false and dangerous,” noting that they were designed to worsen insecurity and weaken social cohesion across member states.
“Perpetrators of this violence target innocent civilians of all religious denominations including Muslims, Christians, and adherents to other religions,” ECOWAS said in a communique shared on its official X handle.
The bloc stressed that independent reports had shown that terrorist attacks in the region were not motivated by religion or ethnicity.
“As independent reports have confirmed over the years, terrorist-related violence does not discriminate on the basis of gender, religion, ethnicity or age,” it stated.
ECOWAS urged the United Nations and other international partners to disregard the claims and support West African nations in their ongoing battle against terrorism.
“ECOWAS strongly rejects these false and dangerous claims that seek to deepen insecurity in communities and weaken social cohesion in the region,” the organisation said.
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It further called on the global community to stand in solidarity with the affected countries.
“ECOWAS calls on the whole world to stand by the countries in the region in their fight against terrorism that targets all communities,” the communique added.
The statement followed comments by Donald Trump, who recently accused Nigeria of permitting what he described as “genocide against Christians.”
The U.S. politician also designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged religious persecution.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump said on Truth Social.
“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet,” he added.
In response, the Nigerian government dismissed the genocide allegations, insisting that it remains firmly committed to protecting religious freedom and fostering harmony among its diverse population.