How Renewed Red Sea Insecurity Is Reshaping Regional Alignments
Maritime disruption is linking security policy on the Arabian Peninsula, Horn of Africa access, energy infrastructure, and regional defense cooperation.
Read analysis →Horn of Africa Institute
Independent Research on Regional Affairs.
Independent analysis of politics, security, state capacity, economic development, climate resilience, and regional affairs across the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, and the Arabian Peninsula.
Research Areas
Research areas
HAI organizes its research around four areas that address political institutions, security, economic development, climate resilience, and regional affairs.
01
Politics, Security, and State Capacity
Conflict, political settlements, armed actors, security institutions, civilian protection, governance, and the capacity of states to act effectively.
Explore research → 02Economy, Trade, and Infrastructure
Public finance, investment, ports, corridors, trade, financial systems, infrastructure, digital transformation, and economic institutions.
Explore research → 03Climate, Water, and Resilience
Climate risk, drought, water governance, food systems, environmental change, adaptation, displacement, and institutional preparedness.
Explore research → 04Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula Affairs
Maritime security, Arabian Peninsula–Horn of Africa relations, external actors, ports, investment, security partnerships, diplomacy, and regional cooperation and competition.
Explore research →Publications
Recent publications
Research and commentary on consequential regional developments.
Toward a Gulf-Horn Partnership: Opportunities, Institutional Constraints, and Political Risks
Shared maritime and economic interests are creating opportunities for cooperation between the Arabian Peninsula and Horn of Africa while political fragmentation and competing regional strategies constrain institutional development.
Read analysis →Puntland’s War Against ISIS and the Next Test Against al-Shabaab
Operation Hillaac shows how local authority, terrain-adapted operations, and selective external support can shape counterterrorism outcomes.
Read analysis →Research Methods
Research methods and strategic foresight
HAI combines qualitative research, quantitative analysis, geospatial methods, modeling, forecasting, and scenario analysis. Foresight Lab supports this work across the Institute.
Methods and Strategic ForesightRegional Focus
The Horn of Africa in a wider regional system
HAI studies Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda, together with the political, economic, security, and environmental systems connecting the region to the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Nile Basin, Indian Ocean, and Arabian Peninsula.
About the Institute →
Horn of Africa Institute
Independent research for consequential regional decisions.
HAI is an independent research and policy organization based in Washington, DC, with a regional focus on the Horn of Africa, Red Sea, and Arabian Peninsula.