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Artwork for The Horn
Sudan
Ethiopia
Khartoum
South Sudan
Horn Of Africa
Darfur
Somalia
Sudanese Armed Forces
Rapid Support Forces
Kenya
Humanitarian Crisis
United Nations
African Union
International Crisis Group
United States
Red Sea
Al-Shabaab
UAE
Chad
Rapid Support Forces (RSF)

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 speaks with Payton Knopf about the rising risk of renewed war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Horn, Alan is joined by scholar Federico Donelli, author of the recent book Power Competition in the Red Sea, to assess the shifting geopolitics of the Red Sea region. They trace the region’s long history as an arena for great-... more

In this episode of The Horn, Alan speaks with Babatunde Afolabi, former Africa Director at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), now Director of Political Affairs at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, about mediat... more

In this episode of The Horn, Alan is joined by scholar and author Samson Abebe Bezabeh, a professor at the University of Hong Kong, to discuss Djibouti’s domestic politics and shifting role in a turbulent region. They explore Djibouti’s history, its ... more

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Recent Guests

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
Nesrine Malik
Author and Guardian columnist
The Guardian
Episode: Sudan, and a Region and World in Upheaval
Omar Mahmood
Analyst at International Crisis Group
International Crisis Group
Episode: Somalia’s Election Standoff and New Inflection Point
Shewit Woldemichael
Crisis Group Sudan expert
International Crisis Group
Episode: Bonus Episode: After Three Years of War in Sudan, What Hope for a Ceasefire?
Hafsa Halawa
Analyst focused on the Middle East, North Africa and Horn of Africa
Independent analyst/specialist
Episode: How the Iran War is Reshaping the Region
H. Hellyer
Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies; Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress
Royal United Services Institute; Center for American Progress
Episode: Behind the Saudi-Emirati Rift
Murithi Mutiga
Crisis Group's Africa director
International Crisis Group
Episode: Bonus Episode: Will Ethiopia and Eritrea Start a Regional War?

Host

Alan Boswell
Host of The Horn; International Crisis Group

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 238 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.

Listeners praise the show for expert guests and structured, insightful discussions.
Fans appreciate the Horn's focused coverage of the Horn of Africa, with expert analysis on regional dynamics.
Some critics question perceived bias and dependence on crisis-centric viewpoints.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Scramble for the Red Sea Is Not Cooling Down
Q: What has changed about the Red Sea region since the opening of the Suez Canal?
The Red Sea has transformed from a historically bifurcated region into a corridor of continuous strategic competition, where external powers, Gulf states, and regional actors seek control over ports, basing rights, and influence, while non-traditional players have increased their presence.
Is Ethiopia Sliding Toward a New Tigray War?
Q: And what is the off-ramp supposed to look like in more detail?
An off-ramp would involve three parallel tracks: domestic reconciliation within Tigray, a clear and verifiable de-escalation with the Ethiopian federal government, and a redefined yet stable Ethiopia–Eritrea relationship to prevent external pressures from reigniting conflict.
Is Ethiopia Sliding Toward a New Tigray War?
Q: Okay, and what was in the Pretoria Accord? What new status quo did it produce once it was signed?
It ceased active fighting, established a verifiable ceasefire with a monitoring mechanism, and opened a path for follow-on political dialogue to address broader political issues beyond the military conflict.
Is Ethiopia Sliding Toward a New Tigray War?
Q: What was required on that level to try to get this conflict to end, and how did the Pretoria Accord come to be?
A combination of persistent diplomacy, international consensus against a military victory, and a willingness by both sides to accept negotiations rather than seek decisive military victory—leading to the Pretoria Accord as a joint U.S.-AU-facilitated peace framework.
Is Ethiopia Sliding Toward a New Tigray War?
Q: Just remind our listeners, why did the last war break out back in 2020 and just how deadly and devastating was it?
The war arose from brinkmanship between Abiy Ahmed's government and the TPLF, compounded by instability elsewhere in Ethiopia; it became extraordinarily deadly due to conventional battles, blockades of humanitarian aid, and the scale of military engagement and regional involvement.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Horn

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

A region-focused geopolitical podcast that dissects conflicts, diplomacy, and regional power plays in the Horn of Africa and surrounding areas. Episodes typically feature in-depth conversations with policy researchers, crisis analysts, journalists, and regional experts to unpack wars, mediation efforts, and international responses, often linking events in Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and the Red Sea to global security dynamics. Noteworthy is the emphasis on regional voices and practical diplomacy, with guests who provide on-the-ground context, strategic insights, and concrete implications for peacebuilding and policy. This mix makes it valuable for listeners who want rigorous analysis, access to expert perspectives, and a clearer understanding... more

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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. The China in Africa Podcast
3. Focus on Africa
4. The Foreign Affairs Interview
5. Foreign Policy Live

How many episodes of The Horn are there?

The Horn launched 7 years ago and published 173 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. Payton Knopf
2. Federico Donelli
3. Samson Abebe Bezabeh
4. Nesrine Malik
5. Omar Mahmood
6. Shewit Woldemichael
7. Hafsa Halawa
8. H. Hellyer

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