The implications of Ethiopia’s foreign policy dynamics towards the Horn of Africa since 1991

AbstractThe research aimed to assess the implications of Ethiopia`s foreign policy dynamics towards the Horn of Africa. Qualitative research has been employed and relevant data were collected through unstructured and semi-structured interviews from purposively selected key informants consisting of I...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Mersha Zenebe Felek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Cogent Social Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2023.2287316
_version_ 1797403226528546816
author Mersha Zenebe Felek
author_facet Mersha Zenebe Felek
author_sort Mersha Zenebe Felek
collection DOAJ
description AbstractThe research aimed to assess the implications of Ethiopia`s foreign policy dynamics towards the Horn of Africa. Qualitative research has been employed and relevant data were collected through unstructured and semi-structured interviews from purposively selected key informants consisting of IGAD, MoFA, and diplomats from Djibouti, South Sudan, Kenya, and Somalia. For secondary sources, previous works on the area were reviewed. The findings of the study revealed that Ethiopia influences regional security, economic, and political agendas through sub-regional and regional organizations. Ethiopia as a chair of IGAD has played an important role in the successful implementation of the CPA and the resulting South Sudanese referendum. Largely, Ethiopia’s role through diplomatic engagement, military intervention, mediation, and peacekeeping activities in the region particularly in Somalia, South Sudan, Eritrea, and Sudan is a good example. The current Ethiopian foreign policy stresses sustained economic development, promotion of democracy, and peace as the main objectives in the region and elsewhere. Accordingly, Ethiopia is constructing railways, roads, and electricity, to connect with Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, and Eritrea. Thus, since 1991, Ethiopia`s national interests towards the Horn have been completely redefined to focus on mutual gain. Nevertheless, it should also be noted that the efforts have been greatly determined by a multitude of factors such as; domestic politics, the need for port service, security, refugees, preserving its regional hegemony, border, proxy war, and terrorism. Indeed, those factors are stimulating the current Ethiopian foreign policy through economic interdependence, cooperation, and securitization of the HoA.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T02:35:29Z
format Article
id doaj.art-7304cf5432a9454496a9dac5af2f22bc
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2331-1886
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T02:35:29Z
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Cogent Social Sciences
spelling doaj.art-7304cf5432a9454496a9dac5af2f22bc2023-12-06T09:32:37ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Social Sciences2331-18862024-12-0110110.1080/23311886.2023.2287316The implications of Ethiopia’s foreign policy dynamics towards the Horn of Africa since 1991Mersha Zenebe Felek0Civics and Ethical Studies, Salale University, Fitche, EthiopiaAbstractThe research aimed to assess the implications of Ethiopia`s foreign policy dynamics towards the Horn of Africa. Qualitative research has been employed and relevant data were collected through unstructured and semi-structured interviews from purposively selected key informants consisting of IGAD, MoFA, and diplomats from Djibouti, South Sudan, Kenya, and Somalia. For secondary sources, previous works on the area were reviewed. The findings of the study revealed that Ethiopia influences regional security, economic, and political agendas through sub-regional and regional organizations. Ethiopia as a chair of IGAD has played an important role in the successful implementation of the CPA and the resulting South Sudanese referendum. Largely, Ethiopia’s role through diplomatic engagement, military intervention, mediation, and peacekeeping activities in the region particularly in Somalia, South Sudan, Eritrea, and Sudan is a good example. The current Ethiopian foreign policy stresses sustained economic development, promotion of democracy, and peace as the main objectives in the region and elsewhere. Accordingly, Ethiopia is constructing railways, roads, and electricity, to connect with Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, and Eritrea. Thus, since 1991, Ethiopia`s national interests towards the Horn have been completely redefined to focus on mutual gain. Nevertheless, it should also be noted that the efforts have been greatly determined by a multitude of factors such as; domestic politics, the need for port service, security, refugees, preserving its regional hegemony, border, proxy war, and terrorism. Indeed, those factors are stimulating the current Ethiopian foreign policy through economic interdependence, cooperation, and securitization of the HoA.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2023.2287316Ethiopian foreign policydynamicshorn of Africapoliticalsecurity
spellingShingle Mersha Zenebe Felek
The implications of Ethiopia’s foreign policy dynamics towards the Horn of Africa since 1991
Cogent Social Sciences
Ethiopian foreign policy
dynamics
horn of Africa
political
security
title The implications of Ethiopia’s foreign policy dynamics towards the Horn of Africa since 1991
title_full The implications of Ethiopia’s foreign policy dynamics towards the Horn of Africa since 1991
title_fullStr The implications of Ethiopia’s foreign policy dynamics towards the Horn of Africa since 1991
title_full_unstemmed The implications of Ethiopia’s foreign policy dynamics towards the Horn of Africa since 1991
title_short The implications of Ethiopia’s foreign policy dynamics towards the Horn of Africa since 1991
title_sort implications of ethiopia s foreign policy dynamics towards the horn of africa since 1991
topic Ethiopian foreign policy
dynamics
horn of Africa
political
security
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2023.2287316
work_keys_str_mv AT mershazenebefelek theimplicationsofethiopiasforeignpolicydynamicstowardsthehornofafricasince1991
AT mershazenebefelek implicationsofethiopiasforeignpolicydynamicstowardsthehornofafricasince1991