Political and Security Trends in East Africa

East Africa is one of the most conflicted and poorly-governed corners of the world. Terrorists based in Somalia pose a security threat to the United States, while piracy off the Somali coast affects U.S. economic interests and has led to the murders of U.S. citizens. U.S. policymakers face the challenge of protecting national security while helping tackle the poor governance which is so often a root cause of insecurity. The Africa Program brings these issues into focus by monitoring developments in the region, including: the implementation of Kenya’s new constitution, the ongoing efforts to bring order and government to Somalia; the frozen yet volatile Ethiopian-Eritrean border dispute; and piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.