Competing Middle East Countries in the Horn Of Africa: Economic And Security Implications For Ethiopia
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Date
2021-07
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Addis ababa university
Abstract
The middle East countries have maintained social, cultural, economic, and religious ties with the
Horn countries for many years. However, since the 2011 Arab Spring the rift among the Middle
East countries and the engagement of these countries with the Horn of Africa has shown an
increase. The 2015 Yemeni civil war and the 2017 GCC crisis have exacerbated the rift among
the Middle East states and resulted in increased engagement of Middle Eastern countries in the
Horn of Africa for expanding their sphere of influence and serving their respective political,
economic, and security interests in the Horn of Africa.
The rift among the Middle Eastern countries in the Middle East and the export of their rift to the
Horn of Africa in terms of proliferation of military installation and ports, increase in military
training, military aid, and economic aid – coupled with their interventionist and coercive foreign
policy towards the Horn has economic and security implications for the Horn of Africa in
broader terms and Ethiopia in particular. The purpose of this study is to examine and analyze
the increased engagement of Middle Eastern countries with the Horn of Africa, and its economic
and security implications to Ethiopia and put forward some policy recommendations that
Ethiopia should adopt to minimize the negative impacts and maximize the benefits of such
engagement of Middle East countries in the Horn of Africa. In doing so, the researcher deployed
a qualitative methodology. Accordingly, investment, trade, and tourism data and data gathered
from key informant interviews, and secondary sources of data were analyzed.
Hence, in terms of economic implication, the research has found that the economy of Ethiopia
has been least impacted by the competitive engagement of Middle East countries in the Horn of
Africa. On the other hand, the research shows that the increased engagement of Middle East
countries in the Horn of Africa is a threat to the security of Ethiopia. Based on the findings, the
study suggests the need to ensure the continuity of inward-looking foreign policy orientation of
the country, and the policy of neutrality towards the Middle East countries. Moreover, the
researcher emphasizes the need to promote a negotiated settlement of rift among the Middle East
states to minimize the impacts and maximize the benefits of increased engagement of Middle East
countries in the Horn of Africa.
Keywords: Competition, Economy, Inward-looking, Neutrality, Rift, Rivalry, Security
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Keywords
Competition, Economy, Inward-looking, Neutrality, Rift, Rivalry, Security