Us-Horn of Africa Relations: Implications to Ethiopia’s National Interest (Post 2018)

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Date

2023-06-01

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

The Horn of Africa is one of the strategic places in the world as its geographical location attracts various actors for the purpose of their own national interests. The US is among those actors to protect its national and allies’_ interests. This study has attempted to analyse the USHorn of African Countries relation and its implications to Ethiopia’s national interest from 2018 to present. The study has employed qualitative approach because of the nature of the study along with primary and secondary sources of data. Depending on the qualitative investigations of texts, semi-structured and open ended interviews, the study has identified and analyzed implications of the US-Horn of African Countries relations to Ethiopia’s national interests. From the opportunity perspective, the study revealed that the US has played role directly or indirectly to Ethiopia’s economic interest through protecting trade routes and maritime in the region.The study also affirmed that the relation has played role to Ethiopia’s peace, military and political security through preventing interstate war, counter-terrorism operations ,military training and intelligence. On the other side ,the study disclosed that the relations have negative implications to Ethiopia’s economic interest. Even though Ethiopia and the US had signed agreement (from 2019 to 2024) that US has to provide about 2 billion US Dollar to Ethiopia for economic purposes,the deal has not properly accomplished due to US’s complaint about the war between TPLF and Ethiopian federal government. In addition, the relation has resulted in the AGOA termination (on January 01, 2022) that brought a number of economic problems for Ethiopia and have negatively impacted in relation with GERD which is high national economic interest and pride for Ethiopia. Furthermore, the study confirmed that the relations has negative implications to Ethiopia’s peace, political and military security_(undermining the national integrity and sovereignty) and the researcher realized that even if the US-Horn of African countries (Ethiopia, Somalia and Djibouti) relations have both negative and positive implications to Ethiopia’s national interest,the negative implications outweigh the positive implications(from 2018 to present). Finally,based on the findings, the paper suggests that Ethiopia needs to work more on its internal assignments; needs to have the flexible, responsive and proactive policy options to the Horn region and super powers which are increasingly present in the region;in order to resume AGOA and to release the halted aids, Ethiopia may have to re-engage more with the US and properly implement the peace process started with TPLF; Ethiopia has to apply skilful and principle based diplomatic relations with super powers, and need to apply African solution to African Problems through IGAD and AU like conflict resolution being held between TPLF and Ethiopian federal government.

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Keywords

Horn of Africa geographical location, National interests, the US-Horn of African Countries relation

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