The African Union has called for restraint following Saturday’s missile strikes on Syria by Western allies.
The U.S., U.K and France early on Saturday struck Syria with more than 100 missiles in the first coordinated Western strikes against the Damascus government, targeting what they called chemical weapons sites in retaliation for a poison gas attack.
Following that attack, AU Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said the continental body was “following with concern the on-going developments regarding Syria.”
“The AU strongly condemns any use of chemical and other weapons prohibited under international law,” he said.
He urged members of the UN Security Council to direct all their efforts in realizing global peace in line with the responsibilities conferred upon them by the UN Charter.
2/4Strongly committed to multilateralism,any response to such acts ought to be based on incontrovertible evidence gathered by a competent,independent + credible entity,and comply strictly with intntl law,including the primacy of the @UN Security Council for any recourse to force
— Moussa Faki Mahamat (@AUC_MoussaFaki) April 15, 2018
3/4Africa expects UNSC members,especially the Permanent ones,to put aside their differences,spare no effort in the pursuit of global peace+ Humanity's common good,in line with the responsibilities conferred upon them by the UN Charter.The #Syrian people have suffered far too long
— Moussa Faki Mahamat (@AUC_MoussaFaki) April 15, 2018
4/4: In the face of this dire situation, the only sensible course of action is the intensification of international efforts to find a lasting political solution based solely on the interests of the Syrian people and respecting the territorial integrity of #Syria.
— Moussa Faki Mahamat (@AUC_MoussaFaki) April 15, 2018
Mahamat’s remarks are similar to that of the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Guterres called for restraint and for countries to avoid any acts that could lead to an escalation of the situation in Syria.
