The chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said the organisation is deeply concerned about the situation in DR Congo following the drone attack on Kisangani Airport, which it unreservedly condemned.
The armed movement AFC/M23 said they carried out the attack.
Youssouf said the attack, directed against an airport infrastructure located in a major urban centre and gravely endangering civilian populations, constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law, in particular the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution.
He said in the absence of objective evidence establishing the strictly military nature of the target, such infrastructure retains its presumption of civilian character and, as such, benefits from full protection under international law.
In light of the relevant instruments of the African Union, in particular the 1999 OAU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism and its 2004 Protocol, the Chairperson of the Commission considers that this attack may amount to an act of terrorism.
Youssouf made it clear that non-state armed groups cannot invoke any political, security or military justification to legitimise acts that target or endanger civilians or civilian infrastructure.
”Such acts may also entail the individual criminal responsibility of their perpetrators and sponsors, in accordance with applicable international law” he added.
The AUC boss warned against the expansion of hostilities to cities far from the front lines, which constitutes a major factor of escalation and poses unacceptable risks to national and regional stability, as well as to the already critical humanitarian situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
He called on the AFC/M23 to immediately cease all hostilities, to renounce the use of indiscriminate means and methods of warfare, and to strictly comply with the commitments undertaken within the framework of ongoing peace efforts.
WN/as/APA