Internal Conflicts as Regional Leverage: How Horn of Africa States Exploit Neighboring Instability

Abstract

Internal conflicts in the Horn of Africa are not only domestic but also tools of geopolitics, hegemonic power struggles, and regional diplomacy. This study aims to examine how the states of the Horn of Africa – Eritrea and Sudan – responded to internal conflicts in Ethiopia. It will explore the actions, inactions, and exploitation of instability caused by conflicts in neighboring states in a bid to strategically advance their interests. The Tigray conflict will be the initial point of reference, with an analysis of how Eritrea capitalized on the internal conflict to advance its regional presence and Sudan’s settling of scores along the Tigray–Al-Fashaga border, while maneuvering in the politics of the Nile. This paper argues that the instability of the countries in the Horn is used as a bargaining chip by other regional states. This demonstrates that Horn states have become active players in reshaping regional geopolitical dynamics during conflicts. Using a comparative approach, this research contributes to rethinking African regional agency during and after internal conflicts, focusing on regional independence while finding common ground.