SUDAN, ETHIOPIA, SOMALIA, DJIBOUTI: SHIFTS IN THE HORN OF AFRICA - After nearly two years of fighting and genocidal acts committed in Sudan, continued instability in Ethiopia, and questions about territorial integrity in Somalia, civilians in these countries remain caught in the middle of conflict, politics, and regional tension.

In fits and starts, regional leaders have attempted to resolve the fighting and political instability in the region, but lasting solutions remain elusive. With outside actors from the Middle East and beyond at times mediating and others supporting, arming, and resupplying different factions, the potential for continued violence and human rights tragedies remains high.

Following US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, this event will focus on the latest developments in Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, and Sudan and their wider impact on the Horn of Africa region. Speakers will explore the current trajectory of instability across the region, including the genocide in Sudan (recently recognized as such by the previous US administration), strategic shifts under the pressure of rival powers, and how the international community can ensure that this important region remains high on the foreign policy agenda.

The Africa Center has closely followed the evolving political climate in the Horn of Africa with the goal of acknowledging the region’s geostrategic importance at the crossroads between the Arab and African worlds. In 2018, the Africa Center created a Sudan Task Force, which has produced leading research and hosted public and private briefings on the situation in the country.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: 02/10/2025