The Horn of Africa Gets a New Rivalry

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are pushing their own agendas in the Horn of Africa, turning a regional summit into a stage for their competition. What started as a fight in Yemen has now spread across the Red Sea, touching places like Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Libya. The UAE has invested billions, built diplomatic ties and quietly supplied military help in the area. Saudi Arabia keeps a lower profile but is forming alliances with Egypt, Turkey and Qatar to counter the UAE’s influence. Because of this tension, local leaders and even warlords feel pressured to pick sides.Some African countries fear the UAE’s strong presence, while Saudi officials claim that UAE actions threaten their security. The conflict is visible in real events: Somalia cut ties with the UAE after it backed Israel’s recognition of Somaliland. Eritrea and Ethiopia are close to war, and the UAE supports one side in Sudan while Saudi allies back the other. Experts warn that African states should stay cautious and avoid getting drawn into a Gulf power struggle, even though other crises like the war in Congo also matter.