African Union: Full solidarity with Egypt after the Damietta port attack
Written by: Ayman Ragab
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssef, condemned the drone attack on ships docked in the port of Damietta, Egypt.
According to initial investigations, the fires that broke out on two ships docked in the port were the result of a drone attack.
Full solidarity
In a statement issued by the African Union on Saturday, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission expressed the organization’s full solidarity with the government and people of Egypt.
He praised the swift and effective response of the Egyptian authorities, which prevented any loss of life, and expressed his confidence in the ongoing investigations to determine the circumstances of the incident.
Youssef stressed that the attack constitutes a serious violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a member state of the African Union.
Africa must not become a stage for the spread of emerging conflicts.
He stressed that Africa must not become a stage for the spread of conflicts originating outside the continent, nor should its vital civilian infrastructure be exposed to such threats.
The President called for maximum restraint and de-escalation, and reaffirmed the African Union’s firm commitment to international law, the safety and security of maritime navigation, and the protection of civilian infrastructure.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Egyptian government said a preliminary investigation found the incident was “caused by a drone,” adding that no one had claimed responsibility.
Authorities said investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the attack and to take the necessary measures to protect Egyptian national security.
A fire damaged two gas tankers at a Mediterranean port, according to Egyptian authorities. Maritime analytics firm Kepler said the incident caused a temporary disruption to operations at one of Egypt's main liquefied natural gas (LNG) import hubs.
However, the Damietta Port Authority confirmed that port operations are still operating at full capacity, with the arrival and departure of ships, cargo handling, and other services continuing without interruption.
