rivalries

By Omar M. ElmiTuesday April 14, 2026 With President Ismail Omar Guelleh having secured 97.81% of the vote on April 10 and preparing to enter a sixth term, Djibouti again finds itself in a familiar but uneasy position: politically tight, economically fragile, and strategically impossible to ignore. In this small state on the Horn of Africa, power is measured not only in votes, but in geography, military rents, and the ability to keep rival interests in delicate balance. Few countries have leveraged their location as…

Egypt's Military Maneuvers Ignite Long-Standing Rivalries in Somalia and the Horn of Africa Egypt's military footprint in Somalia has surged dramatically in recent weeks. Between August 27 and 29, 1,000 Egyptian soldiers were deployed in Mogadishu. Furthermore, Egyptian authorities have unveiled intentions to transfer an array of armaments, including anti-tank missiles, rocket launchers, and drones—actions that prompt fears of escalating hostilities. Notably, Egyptian and Somali military forces are gearing up for joint…