African Union Expresses Concern Over Escalation in Middle East

(MENAFN) The head of the African Union Commission sounded the alarm Saturday over the intensifying military confrontation in the Middle East, cautioning that unchecked escalation could ripple across global markets and deepen vulnerabilities already threatening the African continent.

AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf issued a formal statement declaring he is "deeply concerned by the reported military strikes carried out by the United States in coordination with Israeli forces against targets inside Iran, an escalation that marks a serious intensification of hostilities in the Middle East."

Youssouf called on all parties to exercise restraint and pursue sustained diplomatic channels, insisting that strict adherence to international law and the United Nations Charter was non-negotiable in preserving global peace and security.

The commission chief underscored that the consequences of further military action would not be confined to the region alone — warning of severe downstream effects on energy markets, food supplies, and economic stability, with Africa particularly exposed given its ongoing struggles with conflict and financial pressures.

Urging world powers and regional actors alike to step back from confrontation, Youssouf pressed for immediate diplomatic engagement to halt further deterioration and protect the integrity of the international rules-based order.

He framed the path forward in unambiguous terms, asserting that lasting peace cannot be imposed through military means. "Sustainable peace can only be achieved through diplomacy, not through force," Youssouf said.

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