ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

Western International Interests and the Horn of Africa Crisis

Disclaimer: The relationship between Western international interests and the Horn of Africa crisis is complex and multifaceted. It's essential to approach this topic with nuance and consider multiple perspectives.

A Complex Interplay

The role of Western nations in the Horn of Africa is a subject of intense debate. While they have been significant contributors to humanitarian aid and development efforts, criticisms about their impact on the region are also prevalent.

Here are some key points to consider:

Humanitarian Aid and Development

Positive Impact: Western countries have been major donors of humanitarian aid, providing food, water, medical supplies, and other essential assistance to millions affected by the crisis.
Dependency Concerns: Some argue that overreliance on external aid can hinder long-term development and create dependency.

Political and Economic Interests

Resource Exploitation: The region's rich natural resources, such as oil and minerals, have attracted Western interests. Critics argue that this has sometimes fueled conflict and instability.
Geopolitical Competition: The Horn of Africa is a strategic region, and competition between Western powers and other global actors can complicate efforts to address the crisis.
Support for Authoritarian Regimes: In the past, some Western countries have supported authoritarian regimes in the region for strategic reasons, which has been criticized for undermining democratic governance and human rights.

Limitations and Challenges

Short-Term Focus: Humanitarian aid often addresses immediate needs but may not provide sustainable solutions to the underlying causes of the crisis.
Conditionality: Some aid packages come with conditions that can limit their effectiveness or create additional challenges for recipient countries.
Security Concerns: The volatile security situation in the region can hinder aid delivery and put humanitarian workers at risk.

Criticisms and Alternative Perspectives

It's important to acknowledge that there are different perspectives on the role of Western nations in the Horn of Africa. Some argue that:

Western interference has exacerbated conflicts and instability.
Neocolonialism continues to shape the region's economic and political development.
Insufficient aid and support for regional cooperation have hindered crisis response.

To gain a more comprehensive understanding of this issue, it is crucial to consider the views of African leaders, civil society organizations, and scholars.

Comments

Why States Still Use Barrel Bombs

Smoke ascends after a Syrian military helicopter allegedly dropped a barrel bomb over the city of Daraya on Jan. 31.(FADI DIRANI/AFP/Getty Images) Summary Barrel bombs are not especially effective weapons. They are often poorly constructed; they fail to detonate more often than other devices constructed for a similar purpose; and their lack of precision means they can have a disproportionate effect on civilian populations. However, combatants continue to use barrel bombs in conflicts, including in recent and ongoing conflicts in Africa and the Middle East, and they are ideally suited to the requirements of resource-poor states. Analysis Barrel bombs are improvised devices that contain explosive filling and shrapnel packed into a container, often in a cylindrical shape such as a barrel. The devices continue to be dropped on towns all over Syria . Indeed, there have been several documented cases of their use in Iraq over the past months, and residents of the city of Mosul, which was re

Russia Looks East for New Oil Markets

Click to Enlarge In the final years of the Soviet Union, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev began orienting his foreign policy toward Asia in response to a rising Japan. Putin has also piloted a much-touted pivot to Asia, coinciding with renewed U.S. interest in the area. A good expression of intent was Russia's hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in 2012 in Vladivostok, near Russia's borders with China and North Korea. Although its efforts in Asia have been limited by more direct interests in Russia's periphery and in Europe, Moscow recently has been able to look more to the east. Part of this renewed interest involves finding new export markets for Russian hydrocarbons. Russia's economy relies on energy exports, particularly crude oil and natural gas exported via pipeline to the West. However, Western Europe is diversifying its energy sources as new supplies come online out of a desire to reduce its dependence on Russian energy supplies . This has

LONDON POLICE INDIRECTLY ENCOURAGE CRIMINALS TO ATTACK RUSSIAN DIPLOMATIC PROPERTY

ILLUSTRATIVE IMAGE A few days ago an unknown perpetrator trespassed on the territory of the Russian Trade Delegation in London, causing damage to the property and the vehicles belonging to the trade delegation , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during the September 12 press briefing. The diplomat revealed the response by the London police was discouraging. Police told that the case does not have any prospects and is likely to be closed. This was made despite the fact that the British law enforcement was provided with video surveillance tapes and detailed information shedding light on the incident. By this byehavior, British law inforcements indirectly encourage criminals to continue attacks on Russian diplomatic property in the UK. Zakharova’s statement on “Trespassing on the Russian Trade Mission premises in London” ( source ): During our briefings, we have repeatedly discussed compliance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, specif