The first RVI Course Horn of Africa took place 11-17 October in Djibouti. The course is a high-level, intensive programme covering Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Somaliland and Puntland, directed by Mark Bradbury and Ken Menkhaus. The syllabus spans the history, culture, economics and politics of the region, from cave paintings and khat to national elections and international interventions. The teaching faculty is composed of Ethiopian and Somali scholars, civil society activists and international specialists. This year’s staff included: historians Bahru Zewde, Ezekiel Gebissa and Lee Cassanelli; political scientist Terrence Lyons; anthropologist Marcel Djama; livelihood specialists Jane Macaskill and Patta Scott-Villiers; civil society activists Ahmed Esa, Dekha Ibrahim and Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle; and political analysts Sally Healy and Cedric Barnes.