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Red Sea

“The most pernicious sea in Africa’s history may well be the Red Sea. This thin line of water has been deemed to be more relevant for defining where Africa ends than all the evidence of geology, geography, history and culture.” – Ali Mazrui

The Red Sea zone has long been neglected by governments, policymakers and analysts. Half of it has been seen as part of the Middle East, the other half as part of Africa, with few trying to bridge the divide. Yet, increasingly, the relations across this narrow strip of water are shaping politics, economics, social connections and much more on both sides.

This African Arguments series, The Thin Red Line, seeks to examine the various fast-changing dynamics spanning the Red Sea. Written by leading journalists, academics and researchers of the region, the articles will examine developments from a variety of angles. It will cover domestic and international politics, economics, migration, security and the responses to new challenges and opportunities.

The series is supported by the office of the EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa.

  • Sudan Middle East influence
    Editor's PicksEgyptRed SeaSudan

    Cash and contradictions: On the limits of Middle Eastern influence in Sudan

    By Alex de Waal
    August 1, 2019
    Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt have been heavily involved in Sudan following al-Bashir’s downfall. But not everything is going their way. In Sudan, ...
    Read More
  • Gen Awad Ibn Auf has now been sworn in as the head of the military council that is meant to oversee a two-year transition to civilian rule in Sudan.
    PoliticsRed SeaSudanTop story

    A Cruel April in the Sudan Spring?

    By Alex de Waal
    April 12, 2019
    The new rivalries at the top. An aborted revolution. And the international actors jostling for dominance.  On 11 April, following six days of protests, ...
    Read More
  • Editor's PicksEthiopiaPoliticsRed Sea

    The Abiy Doctrine: One year of Ethiopia’s new foreign policy

    By Awol Allo
    April 5, 2019
    It’s not just domestically that the new Prime Minister has shaken things up in his first year. This article was made possible by the ...
    Read More
  • Eritrea's government building in Asmara.
    Editor's PicksEritreaRed Sea

    Eritrea: Why change abroad doesn’t mean change at home

    By Salih Noor
    September 12, 2018
    Eritrea’s recent foreign policy shifts have been driven by President Afwerki and his Red Sea allies. Neither has an interest in Eritrea democratising. This ...
    Read More
  • Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed meets with Ethiopia's PM Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa in June. Credit: Mohamed Al Hammadi/Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
    EthiopiaPoliticsRed Sea

    Ethiopia: Exploiting the Gulf’s scramble for the Horn of Africa

    By Awol Allo
    August 13, 2018
    Ethiopia’s so far managed to stay neutral and balance its relationships with opposing Gulf partners. But it’s engaged in an unpredictable game. This is ...
    Read More
  • Refugees and migrants line up on a Somalia beach to board the boats that will take them across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen. In a military style operation, the passengers board the small smugglers’ boats in groups of 10. The overcrowded boats can take days to cross. Credit: Alixandra Fazzina.
    Red SeaSociety

    Why are migrants from the Horn flocking to war-torn Yemen?

    By Idil Osman
    August 9, 2018
    In the past few years, hundreds of thousands of Ethiopian and Somali migrants have charted a new route to the Gulf. This is the ...
    Read More
  • The Port of Doraleh in Djibouti. Credit: UN Photo/Evan Schneider.
    Red SeaTop story

    The politics of ports in the Horn: War, peace and Red Sea rivalries

    By David Styan
    July 18, 2018
    How national, regional and international competition over ports is shaping political alliances and enmities across the Red Sea zone. This is the second part ...
    Read More
  • The UAE's Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, visiting Addis Ababa. Credit: Crown Prince Court, Abu Dhabi.
    Red SeaTop story

    Beyond the Red Sea: A new driving force in the politics of the Horn

    By Alex de Waal
    July 11, 2018
    Relations between the Middle East and Horn of Africa have long been neglected. But now they are changing everything. This is the first part ...
    Read More

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