EU Strategy for the Horn of Africa. A regional partnership with local ownership

Arms trafficking, human rights violations, ethnic conflicts, border disputes. These are just a few of the problems that plague the Horn of Africa. They sweep across the region, leaving in their wake a population in abject poverty, and unstable regimes on the margins of the market economy. Political neglect and economic marginalisation are likely to fuel existing conflicts which could engulf the entire region. The European Commission has adopted a new 'EU Strategy for peace, security and development in the Horn of Africa' which tackles the root causes of instability and outlines concrete initiatives for structured dialogue between partners.