斯德哥尔摩国际和平研究所-The-New-External-Security-Politics-of-the-Horn-of-Africa-region_32页_1mb

Summary of The New External Security Politics of the Horn of Africa Region

Core Content

The Horn of Africa region—comprising Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, the Seychelles, South Sudan, and Sudan, along with key adjacent maritime areas—has undergone significant changes in its external security environment. This shift is marked by a growing number of foreign military actors, including from Europe, the United States, the Middle East, the Gulf, and Asia, which have led to increased militarization and the integration of the region into broader geopolitical and geoeconomic strategies.

Main Points

• Militarization of the Region: The Horn of Africa has seen a proliferation of foreign military bases, facilities, and logistics hubs, both on land and at sea. These installations support military operations in the region and beyond, including in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

• Security Agendas: External actors now engage in the Horn for a range of security issues, including counterterrorism, counter-piracy, peacekeeping, and the establishment of military infrastructure. These agendas are increasingly interdependent and integrated into wider strategic frameworks.

• Post-Cold War Shift: The end of the Cold War led to a decline in direct superpower military involvement, but new security priorities such as counterterrorism and counter-piracy have revived foreign military engagement.

Key External Security Engagements

• Support for African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA): External actors have increasingly supported African-led peace operations and regional security organizations, such as the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). This includes financial and political support for peacekeeping missions in Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan.

• US Counterterrorism and Counter-Piracy Operations: The United States has re-engaged in the Horn through military missions such as Operation Enduring Freedom-Horn of Africa (OEF-HOA) and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA). These missions are based in Djibouti, with Camp Lemonnier serving as a central hub. The US has also increased its military presence in Somalia, including drone strikes, special forces operations, and training for the Somali National Army (SNA).

• Multilateral Counter-Piracy Efforts: Several international naval task forces operate in the region, including CTF 150, EUNAVFOR (Operation Atalanta), and CTF 151. These forces, led by the US, EU, and other countries, focus on maritime security and the protection of sea lines of communication.

• Middle Eastern and Gulf Involvement: Middle Eastern and Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Turkey, have increased their security and commercial presence in the Horn. This is driven by strategic interests in countering Iranian influence, supporting regional stability, and securing trade routes. Turkey has established a military base in Somalia and is developing a naval facility in Sudan, which has raised regional tensions.

Regional Impact

• The new external security politics of the Horn have shifted the focus from a purely continental security agenda to one that includes maritime and geoeconomic dimensions.

• The region is now part of a broader East-West security axis, involving the Indo-Pacific and Middle East and Gulf strategic spaces.

• While the Horn has historically been a site for external military operations, the current engagement is more about securing strategic interests and integrating the region into global security networks.

Conclusion

The evolving external security dynamics in the Horn of Africa reflect a complex interplay of geopolitical, commercial, and military interests. This has led to a more militarized and interconnected security environment, with significant implications for regional stability and sovereignty.