The African Union has condemned Houthi attacks on Red Sea oil tankers, warning that disruptions to one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors could undermine Africa’s economy, regional connectivity, energy security, and global supply chains.
In a statement issued following the Houthis’ announcement of a naval blockade targeting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said the security of maritime routes in the Red Sea is of vital strategic importance to Africa. He noted that any disruption to commercial shipping threatens regional maritime connectivity, global supply chains, energy security, and the economic interests of many African countries that depend on safe, secure, and uninterrupted access to these critical sea lanes.
The Chairperson called on the Houthis to immediately halt all attacks against commercial shipping, refrain from actions that could further escalate tensions, and fully comply with international law governing maritime navigation.
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The condemnation follows recent missile and drone strikes by Yemen’s Houthi movement targeting two Saudi-owned crude oil tankers in the Red Sea late Wednesday, triggering fires on board and threatening key energy transit routes through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The strikes represent the first kinetic action reported since the group declared a naval embargo against Saudi shipping earlier in the week.
The chairperson also expressed the Union’s solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reaffirming the African Union’s support for the country’s security, sovereignty, and stability.
