Dear readers,
Since the wave of independence from colonial powers in the late 1940s, conflict seems to characterize the relationship between most African States. The Horn region is no exception with persistent civil unrest in Sudan, identity based conflicts in Ethiopia, and political
fractures in Somalia, the Horn region is experiencing what is commonly referred to in the conflict management discipline as “the neighborhood effect.” Countries that are in conflict-affected regions are more likely to also experience conflict, as well as the socio economic and political conditions that arise as a result. This theory, though seemingly reductionist, helps policymakers identify patterns of conflict in regional blocks as well as formulate early warning measures based on forecasts. With intensifying civil unrest in Sudan and prolonged ethno-secessionist strife in Ethiopia– exacerbated by multiple pockets of violence, it is important to place these conflicts within the larger “neighborhood” context.
This month’s collection of articles highlights the inter-state dangers of the emerging conflicts in the Horn. This 4th edition delves deeper into regional antagonisms in the region among parties who find themselves in domestic turmoil, intending to give the readers an elaborate background of the ongoing turmoil in Sudan.
Despite the tense political situation in multiple Horn countries, this month also saw the partial power generation of Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD), an important milestone on yet another contested issue. I would like to Dr. Yacob Arsano, one of Ethiopia’s leading hydropolitics experts and an unapologetic advocate for equitable water rights in the Nile Basin, for taking the initiative to congratulate the public on this momentous occasion.
We are deeply grateful to Ambassador Dina Mufti, Spokesperson, and Director-General atthe Ethiopian Ministry of Federal Affairs, for taking the time to speak with Horn Review on Ethiopia’s regional and international standing amidst the nation’s tense political climate.
Bethlehem Mehari