The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has dismissed allegations that any religious group is being subjected to genocide in the region, saying such claims are designed to undermine social cohesion and worsen insecurity.
In a communique posted on its official X account late Tuesday, ECOWAS said violence in the region is perpetrated by terrorist groups that target civilians of all faiths — Muslims, Christians and followers of other religions — and therefore cannot be characterised as genocide against a single religious community.
“Perpetrators of this violence target innocent civilians of all religious denominations including Muslims, Christians, and adherents to other religions. As independent reports have confirmed over the years, terrorist-related violence does not discriminate on the basis of gender, religion, ethnicity or age,” the bloc said.
ECOWAS urged the United Nations and international partners to back member states in their fight against terrorism and to reject claims that terrorist groups selectively target one religious community. The communique described such allegations as “false and dangerous” attempts to deepen insecurity and weaken regional unity.
“ECOWAS calls on the whole world to stand by the countries in the region in their fight against terrorism that targets all communities,” the statement added.
The regional statement followed recent remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who labelled Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged persecution of Christians and threatened military action if the Nigerian government did not stop the killings. On his Truth Social platform, Trump warned of possible U.S. intervention and said any attack “will be fast, vicious, and sweet.”
