Horn of Africa

In Context

 Recently , the first China-Horn of Africa Peace, Governance and Development Conference was held .

Horn of Africa

• Horn of Africa, region of eastern Africa. 
• The Horn contains such diverse areas as the highlands of the Ethiopian Plateau, the Ogaden desert, and the Eritrean and Somalian coasts and is home to the Amhara, Tigray, Oromo, and Somali peoples, among others. 

Projects between China and countries from the Horn of Africa

•  In January 2022,China focused on increasing the infrastructural investments in African countries. 
  • China’s three objectives in Africa: controlling the pandemic, implementing a Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) outcomes, and upholding common interests while fighting hegemonic politics.
    • The FOCAC promotes China’s role in the infrastructural and societal development of the Horn. 

• In the 2021 forum, the entire region of the Horn participated and four resolutions were adopted: 
  • the Dakar Action Plan, the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035, the Sino-African Declaration on Climate Change and the Declaration of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of FOCAC.

China’s primary interests/investments in the Horn of Africa

• China’s interests are related to four major areas: 
  • infrastructural projects, financial assistance, natural resources and maritime interests. 
• China’s move “to play a role in the area of security” in Africa indicates a shift in its principle of non-intervention. It is China’s message that its presence in the continent has a larger objective and is not likely to be limited to the Horn of Africa. 

Response of the Horn of Africa 

• Africa has been keen on interacting with China. Despite the wariness surrounding China’s projects in Africa, the governments have mostly been welcoming. 

Source:TH