HISTORICAL FACTS: 7 | History Defined

UN: Millions of Somalis at Risk of Famine

Millions of people in Somalia are at risk of famine, with young children the most vulnerable to the worsening drought in the troubled Horn of Africa nation, UN agencies warned on Tuesday. "Somalia is facing famine conditions as a perfect storm of poor rain, skyrocketing food prices and huge funding…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Apr 12, 2022

Saudi Arabia, UAE Top Gulf Investments in Horn of Africa

A recent study pointed to the growth of Gulf investments in the countries of the Horn of Africa, especially in Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia and Djibouti. Africa has become an increasingly vital partner for the Gulf states. Investment flows from the Arab Gulf to sub-Saharan Africa amounted to about $3.9 billion…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Apr 5, 2022

Climate-Related Disasters Pose ‘Major’ Growth Threat in Middle East, Central Asia, Warns IMF

The frequency and severity of climate-related disasters are rising faster in the Middle East and Central Asia than anywhere in the world, posing a "major threat" to growth and prosperity, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said. A new International Monetary Fund paper showed that climate disasters in the region injured…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 30, 2022

Rethinking risk can unshackle Africa's small scale farmers from the grip of poor weather

Right now, countries in the Horn of Africa are in the midst of a multi-season drought. There have also been years in which the rains have come with such force that floods wash out the season’s labour, sometimes along with homes, as happened in Mozambique just two years ago.

The Conversation · Feb 23, 2022

Somalia's elections are finally under way: five things you should know

Following a series of setbacks going back more than a year, Somalia is nearly wrapping up parliamentary elections (Lower House) leading to presidential elections. The Horn of Africa country uses a complex indirect model, whereby state legislatures and clan delegates pick lawmakers for the national parliament, who will in turn…

The Conversation · Feb 23, 2022

UN Says Internal Displacement, Refugee Influx Continues in Yemen

Internal displacement remains one of the defining features of the Yemen crisis after over 157,000 Yemenis were forced to flee their homes due to conflict, announced the United Nations. The UN indicated that the arrivals to Yemen from the East and Horn of Africa mainly represent migratory movements, and asylum…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 23, 2022

China appoints new special envoy for turbulent Horn of Africa region

China has appointed senior diplomat Xue Bing as its new special envoy for the Horn of Africa, a region that is currently troubled by conflict including in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia.

Reuters · Feb 22, 2022

Satterfield Visits Khartoum to Advance Democratic Transition

US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa David Satterfield was in Sudan on Thursday on a two-day visit to discuss with military and civilian leaders efforts to put the country back on the transition track following the army’s coup in October 25. The US State Department said Satterfield aims…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 17, 2022

The trouble with drought as an explanation for famine in the Horn and Sahel of Africa

In early February 2022, the World Food Programme announced that 13 million people in the Horn of Africa were facing severe hunger as drought gripped the region. Similar concerns have been raised for several countries in the West African Sahel this year.

The Conversation · Feb 15, 2022

UN Says Horn of Africa Drought Kills over 1.5 Million Livestock, Warns of Catastrophe

Drought in the Horn of Africa has killed more than 1.5 million livestock and drastically cut cereal production, “and we are most definitely now sitting on the brink of catastrophe,” a senior official for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said Monday. Rein Paulsen, FAO’s director of emergencies and resilience…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 15, 2022