African Union condemns drone strike on Egypt's Damietta Port

The African Union on Friday condemned a drone attack on vessels at Egypt's Port of Damietta, calling it a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one of its member states and urging restraint to prevent further escalation.

In a statement, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf expressed solidarity with Egypt and praised authorities for their response, saying it had prevented any loss of life.

"Africa must not become a theatre for the spillover of conflicts originating beyond the continent, nor should its critical civilian infrastructure be exposed to such threats," the statement said.

The statement came days after Egypt confirmed that a drone caused a fire aboard two gas vessels at Damietta port earlier this week. The blaze, which damaged the US-owned floating storage and regasification unit Energos Winter before spreading to another vessel, was extinguished without any reported injuries or fatalities. 

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and Egyptian authorities are continuing their investigation.

Damietta is one of Egypt's most important Mediterranean ports and a key hub for liquefied natural gas exports. 

The attack has heightened concerns over the security of maritime infrastructure near the Suez Canal, an increasingly important route for global energy shipments amid wider conflict in the Middle East. 

The AU reiterated its commitment to supporting peace, stability and dialogue across the continent and neighboring regions, urging all parties to avoid actions that could further undermine regional security.