Thread by @IngoHenneberg

New article with @sostapel:
'Cooperation and Conflict at the #HornOfAfrica: A New Regional Bloc between #Ethiopia, #Eritrea & #Somalia and Its Consequences for #EasternAfrica' #HoAC
In: #AfricaSpectrum (@GIGA_Institute; @SAGECQPolitics) #openaccess
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00…

In January 2020, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia proposed to form a new regional bloc, occasionally referred to as the 'Horn of Africa Cooperation' (HoAC). The proposed the HoAC would be the 23rd (!) #RegionalOrganization in #Africa. #regimecomplexity #HornOfAfricaCooperation

Our article assesses which factors have contributed to making this proposal and contemplates potential effects for the complex #security challenges, political tensions among the neighbours, and existing institutional environment at the Horn and the #EasternAfrica.

Drawing on the scholarship on #ComparativeRegionalism and #OverlappingRegionalism, we show that a genuine interest to independently address security challenges in the #HornofAfrica, as well as domestic concerns, are core motivations for the leaders in all 3 states. #regionalism

However,the HoAC plan bears the risk of further alienating regional partners & undermning security efforts of other #RegionalOrganisations(#IGAD,#AU& #EASF).Thus,the promises&pitfalls of the new bloc could shape the #RegionalArchitecture &cause political challenges in the region.

Many thanks to @grauvogelj and the #AfricaSpectrum team at @GIGA_Institute!

.@threadreaderapp please unroll