The African Union Commission (AUC) has expressed grave concern over the sharp escalation of security and humanitarian risks in the Red Sea region, warning that renewed hostilities and maritime disruptions threaten to destabilise East Africa and imperil global trade corridors.

In an official statement, the AUC highlighted the compounding impacts of escalating conflict in the Red Sea corridor, including mass civilian displacement into neighboring coastal nations and severe economic pressure on African economies dependent on key maritime trade routes.

The commission’s statement follows heightened regional instability along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, where intensified conflict has severely disrupted shipping lines, driven up transit costs, and caused significant revenue losses for Red Sea littoral states. According to humanitarian assessments, thousands of fleeing civilians have crossed the Red Sea seeking safety in Djibouti, putting severe strain on local infrastructure alongside mounting regional security concerns.

The AUC called on all warring parties and regional actors to exercise maximum restraint, immediately halt actions that threaten commercial navigation, and strictly adhere to international humanitarian and maritime law to prevent further regional contagion.

–ChannelAfrica/AU–