The Horn of Africa and Great Lakes region has long hosted some of the largest refugee populations globally, a trend that continues amid persistent conflict, political instability, and climate-related displacement. As of 2024, the Horn and Great lakes region hosted close to 4 million refugees and asylum seekers, with countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, …

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Horn of Africa confronts the credible prospect of a second Ethiopia–Eritrea war. Since late 2024, both states have mobilised troops, mechanized units and heavy equipment to their shared frontier of over 1,000 kilometres, exchanged formal diplomatic accusations at the United Nations, and embedded the dispute within an expanding web of regional rivalries …

Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Colleagues and Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good morning. I am privileged to join you at the Horn of Africa Security Dialogue 2026. The HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung’s Regional deserve our collective commendation for convening this important forum and for bringing all of us together. The value of this forum …