The head of the African Union directly contradicted U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of a “” of Christians in Nigeria. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf cautioned against such statements, emphasizing that Muslims are the primary victims of Boko Haram.
These remarks appear to be a response to President Trump’s statements on Nigeria and his threat to take action in the country. Trump has labeled Nigeria a “” and cited the “Christian genocide” narrative, which has gained traction in conservative circles, as justification. The Nigerian government disputes these claims, acknowledging the presence of violence but asserting that it affects people of all faiths and ethnicities.
Nigeria, a major economic and oil-producing power in Africa, has long struggled with instability. The violence in the nation stems from various sources, including Islamist terrorism and an ongoing conflict .
Nigeria and the U.S. maintain a complex relationship characterized by strong economic and security ties alongside periods of tension. Following Nigeria’s transition to democracy in 1999, it became a recipient of , largely aimed at supporting counterterrorism efforts. However, despite this aid, the extremist threat has continued to grow in the northeast, where Boko Haram’s 15-year insurgency has resulted in numerous deaths. Aggressive and unprofessional operations by the Nigerian military in the region have often worsened the situation.
In 2009, Nigerian authorities initiated a crackdown on the then-nascent Boko Haram, leading to the of its leader, Mohammed Yusuf, and in Maiduguri. However, Boko Haram reorganized under new leadership and evolved into a Sunni jihadist group with criminal connections.
The Nigerian military and police continued to employ harsh tactics, leading to and . During this time, the U.S. and Nigeria engaged in aimed at strengthening institutional capacity to protect civilians and address security challenges. However, these efforts were hindered by a lack of accountability for human rights violations and ongoing arms sales. In 2022, a deal for attack helicopters worth became the largest U.S. arms sale to an African country.
Despite these efforts, the Islamist threat proliferated, as the Nigerian military lacked the necessary professionalism and institutional capabilities, such as adherence to the rule of law, logistics, and merit-based promotions, to effectively combat insurgents. Furthermore, Washington consistently failed to press Abuja on necessary reforms. This resulted in committed by Nigerian forces, which further fueled extremism.
The Trump Administration appeared poised to continue this weapons-focused approach. In August 2025, the Administration approved a and demonstrated a greater willingness to worldwide.
However, there is now a potentially brief opportunity to change course.
U.S. military support to Nigeria has historically emphasized sophisticated equipment and tactical training. Washington should shift towards an institution-focused approach to security cooperation, prioritizing the strengthening of defense governance, rule of law, and civilian bureaucracies across the security sector.
Developing a security assistance program with Nigeria that prioritizes security governance support and conditions future training and equipment on tangible reform progress would enhance the effectiveness and professionalism of the Nigerian military.
This crisis should be leveraged. The White House’s attention to insecurity in Nigeria is rare, and President Trump could be guided in a productive direction.
The Pentagon has prepared military plans in Nigeria. Unilateral U.S. strikes will not resolve the issue, but the threat of such actions could be used to pressure Nigeria to genuinely reform its military and broader security sector. This would effectively address violence in Nigeria by enhancing the country’s ability to counter the insurgent threat responsibly.
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