Red Sea: AU warns of direct risk to African economies

The African Union Commission has warned that the military escalation in the Red Sea and threats to navigation at Bab el-Mandeb pose a direct risk to African economies. In a statement released on September 17, 2026, in Addis Ababa, it calls for an immediate halt to attacks on civilians, economic infrastructure, and commercial vessels, as well as urgent de-escalation.

The continental organization condemns the attacks attributed to the Houthis against civilian targets and economic infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, as well as the attacks and threats aimed at commercial shipping in the Red Sea. It reaffirms the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, in accordance with international law.

For the African Union, any obstruction on this strategic route threatens not only the coastal states but also international trade, supply chains, energy security, and the economies of the continent. The Commission emphasizes that the security of the strait is a major strategic interest for Africa, particularly for the Horn of Africa countries and the African states bordering the Red Sea.

This warning comes as the military situation has moved closer to Bab el-Mandeb. On September 11, Houthi forces reached Dhubab, a locality facing Perim Island, according to two Yemeni government sources cited by Reuters. This advance has brought the movement closer to the southern entrance of the Red Sea and a crucial passage between the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal.

A risk of regional contagion

The African Union Commission is also concerned about an expansion of the ongoing confrontations in the Middle East. It believes that further regionalization of the conflict would have direct security, humanitarian, and economic consequences for Africa, without limiting its effects to the countries immediately bordering the strait.

Finally, the African Union calls for the protection of civilians, holy sites, and pilgrims, the guarantee of commercial vessel movement, and the prioritization of political dialogue. Its appeal places the continuity of traffic in the Red Sea and at Bab el-Mandeb among the African security and economic issues directly linked to regional escalation.