Entangled Conflicts in the Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa is facing severe instability due to the escalation of the conflict in Ethiopia and regional power struggles involving Eritrea, Egypt, and Sudan. External pressures and the failure of the 2022 Pretoria Agreement have exacerbated the humanitarian and security crisis.
Why it matters
The regional instability threatens global supply chains and energy security, while highlighting the limitations of current diplomatic efforts in Africa.
The Red Sea region is in a state of upheaval. Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz led to an outsized Saudi dependence on the Bab el-Mandeb, and Yemen’s Houthis seized the moment. As my colleague Steven Cook has explained , these developments have strengthened the hand of the Iranian regime, and worsened supply chain disruptions, energy price increases, and both Saudi and Egyptian anxiety. But anyone who thinks the situation could not get much worse is not paying attention.
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