Fluctuating dynamics of engagement, investment and influence
Since around 2015, the importance of the Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, in the affairs of countries in the Horn of Africa has been growing. At the same time, Turkey, which made a political choice nearly two decades ago to ‘open towards Africa’, has also strengthened its presence in the region. While the Horn of Africa is not the top foreign policy priority for the Gulf states or Turkey, its geographical proximity—part of the Gulf’s ‘near abroad’—means that the region demands consistent attention, particularly from a security perspective.
On 9 June 2021, the Rift Valley Institute invites will launch its latest report —Turkey and the Gulf States in the Horn of Africa: Fluctuating dynamics of engagement, investment and influence—funded by the UK government’s East Africa Research Fund (EARF). This report examines how, and with what consequences, the Gulf states and Turkey have deepened their engagement in the Horn of Africa. What is the significance of this for Western powers—particularly those with a large development presence—and how might Gulf and Turkish engagement be leveraged to tackle some of the most challenging issues related to conflict and underdevelopment in the region?
Details
Date: 9 June 2021
Time: 14:00 – 16:00 EAT
Speakers:
Jason Mosley: Researcher with a focus on Northeastern Africa and the Red Sea region. Research Associate, African Studies Centre, Oxford University.
Nada Wanni: Sudan researcher
Mahad Wasuge: Somalia researcher. Somali Public Agenda.
Chair:
Alden Young: Assistant Professor, UCLA
