East Africa: Why Is Cairo Interested in the Horn of Africa?

Egypt’s ambitions in the Horn of Africa are shaped by various strategic and geopolitical objectives. The Horn of Africa, a region that includes Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia, has been a focal point of international interest due to its location along one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, is a critical passage through which approximately 15% of global trade ships transit. The…