Israel’s recent recognition of the breakaway region of ‘Somaliland’ has brought renewed attention to its long-standing strategic relationships within the Horn of Africa. These ties stretch back to the 1950s and 1960s, when Tel Aviv began forging partnerships with key nations, most notably Ethiopia under Emperor Haile Selassie. The initial goal was to overcome regional isolation and secure vital shipping lanes in the Red Sea.
High-level visits between Israeli officials, including Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin, and Addis Ababa in the early 1960s underscored the region’s importance in Israel’s security calculations, particularly concerning the Red Sea and the Nile River. The Horn of Africa, geographically defined as the landmass west of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, comprises Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia. Politically and economically, the region’s definition expands to include Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda.
The strategic significance of the Horn of Africa grew after the October 1973 war, when the Bab al-Mandab Strait was closed to Israeli ships. This highlighted the vulnerability of critical maritime routes connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa, which handle approximately a quarter of global shipping annually.
In the 1990s, Eritrea emerged as a key Israeli foothold in the region. Reports indicated covert security and intelligence cooperation, including monitoring stations on islands and coastlines along the Red Sea, eavesdropping from mountainous heights, and surveillance facilities in ports to track ship movements and maritime activities.
In recent years, Israeli influence has expanded to include infrastructure development in water and renewable energy, along with knowledge transfer, particularly in Ethiopia. This culminated in a cooperation agreement signed between the two countries in February 2025, focusing on these vital sectors. The implications of these deepening ties are significant for the region’s geopolitical landscape. DZWatch will continue to monitor developments in this critical area.
