- RESEARCH AREAS

Our Centres

Six dedicated centres shaping analysis and policy across the Horn of Africa

Defence & Security

Governance, Statecraft & Conflict Management

Transnational Crimes & Strategic Threats

Diplomacy & Foreign Relations

Terrorism, Violent Extremism & Radicalization

Climate Change, Migration & Development

- MEDIA

HORN Media

Insights, stories, and analysis from across the region.

HORN in Media

Press coverage

Video Gallery

Recordings

Blogs

Research commentary

Photo Gallery

Events & fieldwork

Podcasts

Analyst conversations

Print

Bulletin print

FEATURED

HORN Services

Driving Insight Through Expert Analysis and Advisory, Advisory, and Capacity Solutions

LATEST BULLETIN

PUBLICATIONS

Research That Informs Policy and Practice

GREAT LAKES REGION

GREATER HORN OF AFRICA

REGIONAL FOCUS

Somalia & Somaliland
Monitor

Evidence-driven analysis shaping policy and security across 13 countries.

LATEST BULLETIN

INFORM Initiative

Combating disinformation in fragile states.

ENROL

HORN Academy 2026

Executive training for policymakers.

2026 EVENTS

BY TYPE

REGISTER

Security Dialogue 2026

12 March 2026 · Nairobi, Kenya.

RECENT

ARCHIVE

ARCHIVE

Join the Conversation

Engage with our events, dialogues, and discussions.

Founded in 2017 · Nairobi

About HORN

A leading think tank driving research, policy, and regional dialogue.

SUPPORT

ENGAGE

Support Research

Help Sustain HORN's Mission

Partner or donate to keep HORN independent.

Menu

President Ruto’s State Visit to the United States and its Implications for Kenya

Photo Credits: President-Rutos-State-Visit-to-the-US
Content by admin
Published February 27, 2026

Dr. Mustafa began by shading light on the importance of the roundtable. He stressed that the forum is an opportunity for expert analysts to move away from the ordinary debates around the optics and politics of the state visit as captured by the Kenyan media, public and politicians, to substantive framing of the real issues. He further described the state visit as signaling “the Ruto Doctrine” of inclusive prosperity and a paradigmatic shift from zero-sum to positive-sum
strategies of engagement.

The HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies is a non-profit, applied research and policy think-do tank focusing on research and providing evidence-based analysis and strategic interventions to address political, security, economic, and environmental challenges affecting the greater Horn of Africa region.

© 2026 by The HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies. All rights reserved.

Mustafa Y. Ali, Ph.D.
Mustafa Y. Ali, Ph.D.
Co-founder and Chairman of the HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Recent Publications

    Towards Effective Campaign for African Union Commission Chair: A Critical Examination of Kenya’s Bid 

    Executive SummaryThe African Union (AU) represents a body of collated efforts that bargain for collective continental interests. The recentopening for the African Union Commission Chairperson seat has fetched amplified political action across Africa, aspolitical figures and AU member states present their bids. Kenya’s opposition leader, a pan-Africanist and a decoratedflame of freedom, Mr. Raila Odinga, …

    Annual Report, 2017

    2.0 THE HORN INSTITUTE’S ACCOMPLISHMENTSIN 2017a) A New Start, a Growing Work Force Hassan Khannenje (PhD) is the Institute’s director since July 2017. A Fulbright scholar and an adjunct professor at Wayne State University (USA), Dr. Khannenje brings expertise in conflict resolution, public policy, security, diplomacy, and international relations. In addition to providing leadership, he …