In the Horn of Africa, the time is now for preventative diplomacy

The last time the United States was on the cusp of a presidential election, conflict was looming in Ethiopia. Escalating tensions between the central government and the Tigray region exploded the day Americans went to the polls in November 2020, and a costly war ensued for the next two years, threatening the stability of the Ethiopian state. A cessation of hostilities agreement signed in 2022 brought an end to most of the carnage in Tigray, although a number of outstanding issues remain unaddressed, not least the return of displaced persons. Meanwhile, the coalition that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed built to subdue Tigray fractured, and civil conflict continues to simmer in Amhara and Oromia.

Today, the United States is again distracted by a tight presidential race, and multiple conflicts around the world are competing for our attention. It could be easy to overlook the dangers of tensions rising again in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s fixation on securing an outlet to the Red Sea, and his proven willingness to take big risks, have neighboring states springing into action. Abiy’s attempt to negotiate with Somaliland—a self-governing entity that seeks independence—for sea access poisoned the already historically fraught relationship between Ethiopia and Somalia. Egypt, still gravely concerned about the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and its impact on Nile waters, has seized on regional concerns to find new partners in its efforts to pressure Ethiopia, recently providing arms to Somalia. Eritrea, always interested in keeping its neighbors weak, also hosted talks with Egypt and Somalia.

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