State fragility, strategic geography, external ambition
The Horn of Africa sits at the intersection of internal instability and external interest.
Local political fractures coexist with growing involvement from Gulf states, Turkey and global actors — turning domestic tensions into regional dynamics.
At the center of this convergence lies the Bab el-Mandeb Strait — a narrow passage with disproportionate strategic weight.
Control, access and proximity to this chokepoint increasingly shape external engagement across the region.
From Berbera to Djibouti, from Assab to Mogadishu, international actors are not merely investing in ports — they are positioning themselves along a critical artery linking the Red Sea to the Suez Canal.
What appears as infrastructure development is, in reality, a competition over logistics security, maritime access and long-term leverage.
Here, governance gaps are not just internal issues.
They are entry points.