Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Gulf Crisis May Reshape the Horn of Africa

World Politics Review published on 1 August 2017 an analysis titled "Old Game, New Stakes: How the Gulf Crisis Could Reshape the Horn of Africa" by Michael Woldemariam, Boston University.

The author concluded that while the Gulf crisis has the potential to usher in an entirely new dynamic in the Arab world's engagement with the Horn of Africa, much uncertainty remains about a core premise: that the Saudi-led camp will actually prevail over Qatar. The architects of the anti-Qatar alliance banked on firm support from Washington and Qatar's quick capitulation. Neither has materialized. All indications are that Doha is preparing for a long war of attrition, and that the Saudi-led power play may have incited a formidable new alliance that marries Qatari wealth to Turkish and Iranian military power. This would be a game changer. A long, extended stalemate in the Gulf would also have ramifications for the Horn of Africa.