The Nile-Horn Nexus: Is a New Shatter Belt in the Making?
- December 4, 2021
- Posted by: RSIS
- Categories: IJRISS, International Relations
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue XI, November 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186
The Nile-Horn Nexus: Is a New Shatter Belt in the Making?
Aklilu Gebretinsae Andemikael
PhD Candidate, Department of International Relations, School of International and Public Affairs, Jilin University, People’s Republic of China
Abstract: By using a Shatter Belt Theory as a conceptual framework and a qualitative analysis, this research attempts to answer the question if a new shatter-belt region is in the making as a result of the growing connection between the Nile water politics, the geo politics of the Horn of Africa and presence of foreign powers in the Nile-Horn Region.
A Shatter Belt Theory provides the opportunity to critically expound various patterns of interactions within a certain region that is endowed with plentiful natural resources, has geostrategic importance, gulped in interstate and intrastate conflicts and when these fundamental reasons cumulatively make the region prone to a number of interventions by both regional, extra-regional and global powers.
This research concludes that the Nile-Horn region has all the core elements that all Shatter Belt regions have. The abundant water resources and other natural resources it has; its strategic importance; the multi-dimensional conflicts among states and within the states; as well as the pervasiveness of intervention from regional and extra-regional states all make this Region quite similar with its neighboring shatter belt regions of Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Hence, the Nile-Horn fits to be called a shatter belt region.
Key words: complex interactions; hydro politics; interventions; Nile-Horn nexus; shatter belt
I. INTRODUTION
For clarity sake, the Nile-Horn region on one side comprises the Horn of African countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, the quasi-independent states of Puntland and Somaliland. Besides, included in this Region are Egypt, South Sudan and Sudan. The Nile-Horn Region is home to almost 298 million people i.e. 21 percent of the total population in Africa (World Population Review, 2021). Ethiopia and Egypt are respectively the second and the third most populous countries in Africa and are the 12th and 14th in the world. The region covers 5, 391, 020 sq km i.e. 17.8 percent of the African landmass (ibid).
