Veranstaltungsort: Alte Uni, Raum 210 (früher Raumnummer 3020), Marburg,
The Horn of Africa – Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Kenya – has suffered from colonialism and Cold War geopolitics. Colonial powers drew arbitrary borders that fractured communities. They exploited regional resources for foreign gain. These outsiders imposed authoritarian rule without local legitimacy. Such legacies have produced fragile states, militarized politics, and unresolved grievances that still fuel conflict.
Today, climate change worsens these problems. Extended droughts, devastating floods, livestock die-offs, and crop failures push people to move within and across borders. As water, land, and grazing routes shrink, old tensions rise. Hunger becomes a weapon in ongoing conflicts. Women, youth, and indigenous communities are most affected by this crisis.
This lecture explores how colonial legacies, neocolonialism, and climate shocks destabilize the Horn of Africa. It also highlights the American Friends Service Committee’s work in supporting nonviolent, community-led peacebuilding. Their efforts focus on trauma healing, encouraging inclusive governance, and elevating women and youth as key leaders for peace and resilience. Achieving lasting peace in the Horn of Africa requires immediate commitment to a decolonized, African-led, climate-just approach to security. We need to build robust local institutions, ensure social equity, and champion African solutions for resilience and long-term stability.