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The Horn of Africa Project

What drives economics and events in Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia/Somaliland?

What should the outside world do about it?

Sally Healy OBE, Associate Fellow, Chatham House

Summary

Chatham House Africa Programme is undertaking a three year project examining the complex politics and economics of the Horn of Africa. Following the completion of a successful project studying conflict in the region (details below) it has become apparent that the economic structure of the region is not well understood by decision makers and that there is considerable demand for informative and detailed work in this area.

Why the Horn of Africa?

The Horn of Africa is one of the most unstable regions in the world. Somalia is in a state of collapse with millions forced from their homes now facing food shortages. In Sudan the crisis in Darfur draws international attention and threatens the stability of central Africa, while the peace process between the Government of Sudan and the SPLM remains incredibly fragile. Ethiopia and Eritrea exist in a state of no war no peace and are fighting a dangerous proxy war in Somalia. Djibouti which has positioned itself as a regional safe haven and economic hub is currently threatened by overspill from the Somali conflict and direct attacks from Eritrea. This vast area with over 130 million people is linked by shared history and a complex web of economic ties.

The Horn of Africa is a meeting point between the Middle East, Indian Ocean and East and Central Africa, and with one of the world's most important shipping routes running through the Gulf of Aden this is an area of global economic significance.

When?

The project will run from September 2008 with a target date for completion of September 2011.

Who is it for?

The target audience is policy makers in and outside the region, diplomats, academics, opinion formers and those with an interest in the Horn of Africa. The findings and reports of the project will be of interest to those involved in development, regional economics, conflict resolution, good governance and counter-terrorism.

Outcomes to Date

From the end of 2006 Chatham House led a major project looking at interconnecting conflicts in the Horn of Africa. Funded by the United Kingdom, Canada and Norway, Horn of Africa work began at Chatham House in late 2006 and has produced a series of authoritative policy relevant options for the international community relating to the Horn of Africa.

The work focused on the peace process of the region; the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan, the Ethiopia-Eritrea border process and the Mbagathi process in Somalia. Our briefing paper on the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute - Ethiopia and Eritrea: Allergic to Persuasion - has become the standard text amongst diplomats in the region, and our work on the CPA contributed towards the return of the SPLM to the Government of National Unity.

The final piece of work in this series was a report by Sally Healy - Lost Opportunities in the Horn of Africa: How Conflicts Connect and Peace Agreements Unravel. It is convincing policy-makers of the absolute importance of a holistic approach to conflict in the Horn.

A briefing paper published in October 2008 - Piracy in Somalia: Threatening Global Trade, Feeding Local Wars, generated an immense amount of international interest and informed policy responses amongst major naval powers to counter the threat.

Our work to date has enabled us to build up excellent contacts with regional governments, IGAD, the AU and international partners. We have strong links to academics, policy-makers and politicians in the region and have developed important relationships with UK and Europe based diaspora communities from the Horn.

Output

  • The project aims to produce four policy papers per year with a major report at the end of the three years.
  • Regular meetings and briefings with experts and people from the region will aim to develop understanding of key policy makers while at least two conferences per year will explore in greater detail specific themes.
  • A key element of the project will be to hold meetings and seminars in the region that will stimulate debate and new thinking within regional elites.
  • We will also host prominent figures from the region at public meetings in London to develop wider understanding of the Horn.

Download full project information >>

Africa Programme Publications on the Horn of Africa

Piracy in Somalia: Threatening Global Trade, Feeding Local Wars
Briefing Paper
Roger Middleton, October 2008

Lost Opportunities in the Horn of Africa: How Conflicts Connect and Peace Agreements Unravel
Chatham House Report
Sally Healy, June 2008

Eritrea's Regional Role and Foreign Policy: Past, Present and Future Perspectives
Seminar Report
Sally Healy OBE, January 2008

Sudan: Where is the Comprehensive Peace Agreement Heading?
Seminar Report
Sally Healy OBE, January 2008

Eritrea's Economic Survival
Conference Report
Sally Healy, September 2007

Conflict in the Ogaden and its Regional Dimension
Seminar Report
Sally Healy OBE, September 2007

Alternative Visions for Somalia
Meeting Summary
Chatham House, July 2007

Yemen and the Horn of Africa
Roundtable summary
Chatham House, June 2007

The Rise and Fall of Mogadishu's Islamic Courts
Briefing Paper
Cedric Barnes and Harun Hassan, April 2007

Ethiopia and Eritrea: Allergic to Persuasion
Briefing Paper
Sally Healy and Martin Plaut, January 2007

Funding

This work is being funded by:

  • British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
  • Canadian International Development Agency
  • Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

For more information please contact Tom Cargill.

Tel: +44 (0)20 7957 5718
Fax: +44 (0)20 7957 5710
Email Tom Cargill >>