The Habesha: Latest Ethiopian News, Analysis and Articles

English French German Hebrew Swedish Spanish Italian Arabic Dutch

The Horn of Africa States The Insecurities of the Arab Gulf States

By Dr. Suleiman Walhad
August 10th, 2022

The Red Sea, the Gulf of Berbera and the Somali Sea separate the Horn of Africa from the Arabian Peninsula, where the widest water separation between the two regions is about some 355 km. Historically the two regions were always connected through trade and people movement from one region to the other. This was a trade which mostly favored the Horn of Africa States as this region supplied most of the sustenance and food of the Arabian Peninsula. At times it also involved manpower, even. The connection of the two regions still continues but now favors the Arabian Peninsula, which over the past six decades turned out to become one of the wealthiest regions of the world. The labor migration from the Horn of Africa States continues but now the trade between the two regions favors the Arabian Peninsula.

The change has caused an upheaval in the two regions where one still believes in the sanctity of the relations between the two regions and the other needs to demonstrate its stronger hand. Accordingly mistrust between the two regions have crept up into the relations as the Arabian Peninsula confident of its newly found wealth seems to over-exploit it, thus interfering in the rule of law and governance of the Horn of Africa States. The trade and manpower relationship between the two regions is no longer the mainframe of the link between the two regions but the wealth and application of what it can buy, is the main determinant of the relations between the two regions. Gulf Arab inspired piracy, terrorism, clan/tribal competition in the Horn of Africa States all financed by Arab wealth have become major impediments to the rule of law and governance in the Horn of Africa States.

In 2018, Ethiopia and Eritrea signed a peace treaty between themselves, but this was not done in either Addis Ababa or Asmara. It was signed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with the presence of the Emirates as well, and this was prompted only by the wealth of the Arab Gulf States. Djibouti, another Horn of African State was also invited to the signing ceremony. The latter has a border dispute with Eritrea.

How is it possible that the Horn of Africa States, which have historical, cultural and even ethnic ties, unable to solve problems among themselves and resort to third parties whose interest lies is in the disruption of ties among the Horn of Africa States? This is a major puzzle and a question for the regionā€™s leadership both governing and opposition! Even as we pen these words, we know the relationship between Somalia and Ethiopia, both of the Horn of Africa States is sinking, because of the actions or inactions of Arabs and their newly found wealth with respect to terrorism being exported into Ethiopia.

Many analysts read this as attempts of the Arab Gulf States to project power, but it is far from that. The Horn of Africa States is actually better situated to receive, fuel and service international shipping than Dubai or any other Gulf Arab state for that matter. The Horn of African ports of Massawa, Assab, Djibouti, Berbera and Bossaso are all better placed to serve international shipping than any Arab Gulf port including but not limited to Dubai, Salalah and even Jeddah on the Red Sea. The port of Aden is already out of commission as was designed and executed by the Emiratis. The worsening of relations between the two regions is, indeed, prompted by insecurity on the part of the Arab Gulf States and hence fear of the competition that these Horn of Africa Statesā€™ ports may pose to the business of the Arab Gulf ports and mostly to Dubaiā€™ Jebel Ali.

The insecurity is further demonstrated by the fear of the possibility of closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which is a major passage of crude and gas exports from the Arabian Peninsula by the Iranians. The Saudis were building pipelines to bypass the Strait of Hormuz for some 20 years now and they have built export terminals on the Red Sea and hence the need to secure this important seaway from the Somali Sea through the Gulf of Berbera, and Bab El Mandab to the Suez Canal.

Despite being Muslims, the Arab Gulf States have also forgotten that charity is not a way to diplomacy. If one is a donor, it is for Allah, as Islam advises and not for gains. It would seem the Arab Gulf States use their newly found wealth to gain footholds in the Horn of Africa States to control them. They forget that other major powers of the world offer better than mere dollars. They cannot build roads and rail and they cannot build factories or other infrastructures and technologies, even through loans. Ā The claim that they invest in logistics, ports, and trade developmentĀ remains a lame excuse for fear of losing to other ports and this is a far greater motive. They, indeed, depress-cum-suppress the growth of other ports. Djibouti found out of the ploy long ago and cut off the relations with DP World with great difficulties.

The Horn of Africa States has long historical relations with the Arab Gulf States, but those relations of old is no longer in place because the Horn of Africa States is now poorer of the two and Arabs only respect power. They associate themselves with the more powerful and not with the poor. They believe, because the Horn of Africa States is poor, they can dictate to them their will. It is where the Arab Gulf States are making a major blunder. The Horn of Africa States is a tough region despite being poor. They are a people who can die in hunger and never lose their intrinsic pride, despite the existence of few bad apples, like any other society.

The Horn of Africa States not only lies in a strategic location along the path to the Suez Canal but is also the source of the Nile waters that feed Sudan and Egypt and traditionally these two major factors generally determined its peace. How well they manage these two issues was always a determinant of the fate of the region. Both Sudan and Egypt never entered into the internal affairs and clans and ethnic groups of the region. The entry of the insecurities of the Arab Gulf States into the scene, has mudded and messed it up and truly poses an existential threat to the Horn of Africa States region. Today the whole region is embroiled in clan/tribal civil wars and terrorism and to a large extent, they all emanate from the insecurities of the Arab Gulf States. It is up to the leadership of the region to wake up to this new threat and face them boldly. They do not need the ā€œqualche dollaroā€ they offer.

The SEED countries of the Horn of Africa States need to strengthen the economic, political, social, cultural, and security cooperation of the region to face off the threats posed by the insecurities of others. Peace and continuing reconciliation among the countries of the region wouldĀ open new pathways including economic integration to cooperate and would change the landscape of relations in the region. Instead of the tag ā€œConflict-Ridden Regionā€, it should carry another tag the ā€œPeaceful Regionā€. Arab Gulf States should know that the region is not a threat to them but need to survive too!

 

Dr. Suleiman Walhad writes on the Horn of Africa economies and politics. He can be reached atĀ walhad@hornafric.org.

1 thought on “The Horn of Africa States The Insecurities of the Arab Gulf States”

  1. I call upon and urge our brother Dr. Suleiman to utilize all his enormous talent and put his expertise in the affairs of the HOA in a form of a book so we can educate ourselves with it. He is insanely prolific writer with plenty of home run material. From various articles he posted on this website he has proven himself not presupposed on this or that entity. He showed his independence and free of all these prejudices we notice among many intellectuals among the SEED countries. It has become a habit for me to look for his latest articles whenever I come to this website. Blessings to you and your family, sir!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top