Summary

Article summaries

Entre le GCC et l'IGAD, les relations bilatérales priment sur l'aspect régional

By Patrick Ferras

Les relations bilatérales entre Etats font partie des fondamentaux des relations internationales. Une des étapes suivantes peut être la création de regroupements régionaux avec notamment des intégrations économiques voire politiques et sécuritaires. Les débats actuels autour de la construction européenne, son évolution sont des marquants importants pour analyser les comportements des acteurs étatiques. Comme l’a rappelé le Président français Emmanuel Macron lors de son discours à l’Assemblée générale des Nations Unies, le multilatéralisme (« fort et responsable ») est la solution préconisée et la plus optimale pour trouver des solutions aux problématiques internationales, résoudre les crises. La Péninsule arabique et la Corne de l’Afrique, séparées par la mer Rouge, sont deux blocs régionaux qui restent relativement peu marqués par leurs relations. Si la richesse des uns n’est plus à commenter, la pauvreté des autres ne peut passer inaperçu. Depuis l’accueil par l’Ethiopie des compagnons du prophète qui ont fui l’Arabie saoudite jusqu’aux migrations légales et illégales des pays de la Corne de l’Afrique vers la Péninsule arabique ces dernières années, il y a lieu de constater que les relations existent et pourraient être beaucoup plus soutenues. Il existe des raisons pour comprendre que ces relations restent avant tout bilatérales et auront de grandes difficultés à prendre une dimension régionale, de bloc à bloc.

BAHRAIN, DJIBOUTI, ERITREA, ETHIOPIA, KENYA, KUWAIT, OMAN, QATAR, SAUDI ARABIA, SOMALIA, SOUTH SUDAN, SUDAN, UGANDA, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, UNITED NATIONS, YEMEN

The Gulf Crisis: The Impasse between Mogadishu and the regions

By Muhyadin Ahmed Roble

The on-going Gulf crisis is also destabilising Somalia. It has created friction and political tensions between the federal government based in Mogadishu, and the five regional states. It has equally negatively impacted on the security situation in the country, slowing down the fight against insurgent al-Shabaab, halted the reform agenda and threatens the country’s nascent institutions…

QATAR, SOMALIA, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, YEMEN

Turkish and UAE Engagement in Horn of Africa and Changing Geo-Politics of the Region

By Umer Karim

The Horn of Africa occupies an important strategic position on the map of the world. It looks over the Bab al-Mandab straits which is a major marine transportation hub. The changes in the political and security situation of the broader Middle East have affected the region, and the Horn is increasingly seen as an important strategic asset by regional and international powers. This has resulted in its becoming a key battle front in this balancing game for political influence playing out between several regional players. These new political dynamics are shaping the relations between the states of the Horn and also affecting their domestic political and security outlook. Many Middle Eastern states have initiated political and security engagement with Horn of Africa states, but the most prominent amongst them have been Turkey and United Arab Emirates (UAE)[1]. Attempts by both nations to consolidate their foothold in the region have had an impact on the political stature and fortunes of their local allies. These complexities in the geo-political dynamics of the Horn region have been further complicated by the political rift between Qatar and the quartet countries including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt[2]. Countries in the Horn have enjoyed simultaneously, close ties with Qatar as well as Saudi Arabia and UAE, but this latest crisis has compelled them to choose between the two sides.

This article will discuss how the manoeuvrings of UAE and Turkey in the Horn are impacting its politics and the repercussions of the Qatar crisis will also be analysed.

BAHRAIN, EGYPT, SAUDI ARABIA, SOMALIA, SOMALILAND, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES