Lost in the Horn

Posted to the web 25 July 2008 Stephen Marks Human security should come first in seeking conflict resolution in the Horn of Africa. Favour should be shown to partners that protect their people - whether they are state or non-state actors - and not just to those who claim to protect western interests. And all states in the region should be required to conform to "the normal conventions of international conduct." These are the main conclusions of a new Chatham House report by Sally Healey in 'Lost Opportunities in the Horn of Africa: How Conflicts Connect and Peace Agreements Unravel.' The conclusions, despite their diplomatic wording, amount to a clear criticism of outside and especially Western policy in the region. But the underlying analysis provides a valuable conceptual tool-kit for challenging the concepts used more... [read full story]