Rephonic
Artwork for The Horn
Sudan
Ethiopia
Khartoum
Horn Of Africa
South Sudan
Darfur
Somalia
Sudanese Armed Forces
Rapid Support Forces
Kenya
Red Sea
Humanitarian Crisis
United Nations
African Union
International Crisis Group
United States
Eritrea
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Chad

The Horn of Africa is in turmoil. From revolution in Sudan to civil war in Ethiopia, from Somalia’s political stalemate and the regional spread of jihadism to troubled East African democracies, the region’s pace and scale of change are difficult to keep up with. The Horn, a podcast series from the International Crisis Group, helps make sense of it all. Host Alan Boswell and guests dive deep behind... more

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Latest Episodes

In this episode of The Horn, Alan is joined by Michael Woldemariam, associate professor at the University of Maryland, to discuss the conflict in northern Ethiopia and whether it could escalate into a wider war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. They exam... more

Today on The Horn, we are bringing you a bonus episode on the rising risk of war between Ethiopia and Eritrea from Crisis Group's Global Podcast Hold Your Fire!.

This week on Hold Your Fire!, Richard is joined by Alan Boswell, Crisis Group’s Horn of... more

In this episode of The Horn, Alan is joined by Yousra Elbagir, Sky News’s Africa correspondent and winner of the RTS Network Television Journalist of the Year award 2026, to discuss her reporting from inside Sudan’s war and its various front lines. T... more

Today on The Horn, we are bringing you a bonus episode on Ethiopia from Crisis Group's Global Podcast Hold Your Fire!.

In this episode, Richard Atwood speaks with Crisis Group’s Africa director Murithi Mutiga about renewed fighting in northern Ethio... more

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Recent Guests

Alan Boswell
Crisis Group's Horn of Africa director
International Crisis Group
Episode: Bonus Episode | How Close Are Ethiopia and Eritrea to All-out War?
Yousra Elbagir
Africa correspondent for Sky News; Journalist of the Year (Royal Television Society)
Sky News
Episode: Inside Sudan’s War
Murithi Mutiga
Crisis Group Africa Director
International Crisis Group
Episode: Bonus Episode | Back to War in Ethiopia?
Yasmine Farouk
Crisis Group's project director for the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula
International Crisis Group
Episode: The Houthis, the Saudis and the New Red Sea Politics
Ahmed Nagi
Senior analyst for Yemen
International Crisis Group
Episode: The Houthis, the Saudis and the New Red Sea Politics
Samira Gaid
Founder and senior analyst at Balqiis, Mogadishu-based think tank
Balqiis
Episode: Somalia’s End-of-year Cliffhanger
Payton Knopf
Former US official in The Horn of Africa; now with the Dialogue Advisory Group
Dialogue Advisory Group
Episode: Is Ethiopia Sliding Toward a New Tigray War?
Federico Donelli
Associate professor at the University of Trieste; author on power competition in the Red Sea
University of Trieste
Episode: The Scramble for the Red Sea Is Not Cooling Down
Samson Abebe Bezabeh
Professor and author of Djibouti, A Political History
Academic author
Episode: Tiny Djibouti, and Its Prime Real Estate

Host

Alan Boswell
Host of The Horn; Director, The Horn of Africa; International Crisis Group

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 242 ratings
  • Brilliant

    Necessary information, always interesting and expert guests

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jamie_HH
    Germanya year ago
  • I really appreciate the time taken to have this discussion on the events in Sudan and this gave a great overview of why and how the conflict continues.

    Audible
    5
    Murley Family
    United States3 years ago
  • Very informative

    I really appreciate the time taken to have this discussion on the events in Sudan and this gave a great overview of why and how the conflict continues.

    Audible
    5
    Murley Family
    United States3 years ago
  • Propaganda & Crisis Manufacturers

    The name of the group tells it all - there is significant moral hazard with their analyses. What if there was no crises? Obviously an existential threat. They have absolutely no credibility among a vast majority of informed Africans and citizens of the Horn. Westerners in Africa, getting western funding to “analyze crises” -besides the colonial stink – does one expect to get anything impartial? More likely: Parrot donor policy and exaggeration/perpetuation of crises. Probably explains why at lea... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    atoayu
    United States4 years ago
  • Stick to the horn

    Good podcast but please stick to the Horn of Africa. I can get general Africa need and commentary from dozens of other podcasts. I listen to this one for this focus on horn voices.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Sarita7981
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

East Africa: great macro geopolitics and regional insights
So informative: informative and insightful analysis of a crucial region
Brilliant: Necessary information, always interesting and expert guests
Stick to the horn: focused on Horn of Africa, good for Horn-centered listeners
One of my favorite political analysis podcasts. Very engaging and well structured

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ethiopia and Eritrea, On the Cusp of War
Q: What do you see as possible off-ramps or de-escalation paths to avoid a wider war?
A pathway involves de-linking the Tigray war from broader Eritrea-Ethiopia escalation by pushing for inclusive regional governance in Tigray, dialogue between Eritrea and Ethiopia, and regionalized negotiations on ports and security arrangements. In addition, diplomatic messaging to deter direct engagement, coupled with back-channel talks, could slowly unwind the current posture while addressing security dilemmas on both sides.
Ethiopia and Eritrea, On the Cusp of War
Q: Mike, why do you think the TPLF made this move launching this war?
There were several interlocking logics: ongoing clashes with ENDF near the Sudan border, rising drone activity and military buildup, and increasing frustration with Pretoria's mediation and the Pretoria Agreement not delivering on key commitments. The TPLF also faced pressure from allies and a broader strategic alignment, which may have pushed them to disrupt the stalemate and recalibrate their position.
Bonus Episode | How Close Are Ethiopia and Eritrea to All-out War?
Q: What diplomatic moves could realistically avert a wider conflict given the current stalemate?
A high-level, coordinated diplomatic push by the US, Europe, Gulf capitals, and African leaders to deliver private, consequence-driven messaging and to establish back-channel talks with Addis Ababa and Asmara could help de-escalate, but both capitals must buy in and resist retaliatory moves that would push the region toward full-scale war.
Bonus Episode | How Close Are Ethiopia and Eritrea to All-out War?
Q: What role do sea access ambitions play in this crisis and how are they interpreted by Eritrea and its neighbors?
Abiy's rhetoric about Red Sea access signals a long-term strategic push to reassert sea access, which Eritrea sees as a potential threat to its sovereignty; the dispute over coastal and naval presence feeds into mutual distrust and fuels the risk that a broader war could be framed as defending or asserting maritime interests.
Bonus Episode | How Close Are Ethiopia and Eritrea to All-out War?
Q: Can you break down how Eritrea's alignment with the TPLF reshapes the risk of a direct Ethiopia–Eritrea war?
Eritrea's alliance with the TPLF shifts the conflict away from a conventional, bounded war and toward a broader regional confrontation, especially as Eritrea pushes the front toward the Ethiopian border and potentially into border areas, complicating Addis Ababa's calculus and increasing the probability of a direct clash.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Horn

What is The Horn about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A rigorous analysis show focused on the Horn of Africa and broader regional security, diplomacy, and conflict resolution. Across recent episodes, topics routinely center on Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Red Sea dynamics, with guests from think tanks, academia, and policy groups offering in-depth historical context, geopolitical framing, and practical mediation insights. The program is notable for its expert guests, calm interview approach, and clear connections between diplomacy, regional realities, and global power shifts, making it valuable for listeners involved in policy, diplomacy, and security marketing or sponsorship targeting geopolitical audiences.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Horn?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Horn:

1. Hold Your Fire!
2. Focus on Africa
3. Middle East Focus
4. Independent Thinking
5. Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters

How many episodes of The Horn are there?

The Horn launched 7 years ago and published 181 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Horn?

Recent guests on The Horn include:

1. Alan Boswell
2. Yousra Elbagir
3. Murithi Mutiga
4. Yasmine Farouk
5. Ahmed Nagi
6. Samira Gaid
7. Payton Knopf
8. Federico Donelli

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