The African Union today strongly condemned the attacks on tankers in the Red Sea claimed by the Houthis who announced a naval blockade against the Kingdom of Arabia Saudi. The sentence comes after Yemenis Houthis claimed responsibility for yesterday's attacks in the Red Sea against the two Saudi oil tankers Encelia and Layla.

In a statement, the President of the Commission of the African Union, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, stressed that "Such actions represent a dangerous escalation with serious implications for regional peace and security' and highlighted that "attacks against commercial and commercial vessels any attempt to hinder the free movement of maritime traffic pose a serious threat to safety maritime and the stability of one of the navigable roads in the world. The freedom to Navigation and Safety of Commercial Shipping - HA specified Youssouf - must be fully complied with in in accordance with international law".

In addition, the Chairman of the African Union Commission remarked that 'the security of maritime routes in the Red is of vital strategic importance for Africa" and 'any disruption of commercial maritime traffic risks undermining regional maritime connectivity, global supply chains, energy security and the interests of of many African states whose trade depends on a safe and uninterrupted access to these maritime routes".

Youssouf urged the Houthis to immediately cease all attacks against commercial maritime traffic, to refrain from any action that can further exacerbate tensions and to respect fully international shipping law maritime.