The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
on Tuesday dismissed assertions that any religious group in the region is being
subjected to genocide, saying such claims are intended to weaken regional
cohesion and distort the security picture.
In a communique posted on its official X handle, the
regional bloc said attacks across West Africa do not target people on the basis
of religion and warned that labelling the violence as genocide risks deepening
insecurity and social divisions.
“Perpetrators of this violence target innocent
civilians of all religious denominations including Muslims, Christians, and
adherents to other religions,” the statement read. “As independent reports have
confirmed over the years, terrorist-related violence does not discriminate on
the basis of gender, religion, ethnicity or age.”
ECOWAS called on the United Nations and international
partners to support member states in their counter-terrorism efforts and to
treat as false any claims that terrorist groups single out one religious
community. The bloc said such assertions are “false and dangerous” and urged
the international community to stand with affected countries in the fight
against terrorism.
The communique came after U.S. President Donald Trump
last week redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC),
citing alleged mass atrocities against Christians. Trump also warned of
potential U.S. military action if the Nigerian government failed to halt the
killings.
The Nigerian federal government has denied the
genocide claims and reiterated its commitment to religious freedom. ECOWAS’
response adds a regional voice urging caution, insisting the primary threat is
terrorism that affects communities across religious lines.
ECOWAS’ statement emphasised two policy priorities:
(1) strengthen international cooperation and support for member states
confronting violent extremist groups, and (2) resist narratives that could
inflame tensions and undermine social cohesion in the region.
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