Horn of Africa and the Red Sea: News, Explainers and Odds
The Horn of Africa sits on the Bab el-Mandeb strait, the southern gateway of the Red Sea and the Suez route between Asia and Europe. In 2026 several conflicts overlap there at once, from the Ethiopia–Eritrea standoff and Tigray to Sudan's war and Houthi attacks on shipping.
This page gathers our reporting, explainers and the latest prediction-market odds on the region in one place. It updates automatically whenever we publish a new story.
Start Here
Explainers
- Ethiopia’s Neighbors Explained, Ports, Eritrea, Somalia
- Eritrea Explained 2026, a Red Sea Country Guide
- Djibouti Explained 2026, Bases, Ports and Guelleh
- Somalia Explained: Al-Shabaab, Somaliland, the Ports and the Fight Over a 2026 Vote
- Sudan’s Neighbours and the Horn of Africa Explained in 2026
- Why Ethiopia’s Tigray Region Is at War Again in 2026
- Ethiopia Red Sea Access Push Risks a Wider Horn Crisis
- Bab el-Mandeb: US, China Forces Guard Oil Chokepoint
- Somalia Cancels Berbera Port Deals, Reshaping Horn of Africa
- Egypt Calls Djibouti, and Completes a Ring Around Ethiopia
Ethiopia and Eritrea: The Series
The Flashpoints
Ethiopia and Eritrea
Troops face each other on the border while Ethiopia presses its claim to sea access.
- Ethiopia vs Eritrea: Who Would Win a War?15 Oct
- Eritrea Accuses Ethiopia at UN on 14 October15 Oct
- Ethiopian Troops Reach Zalambessa by 13 Oct14 Oct
- Ethiopia Drones Hit Eritreans on 8 October, ACLED Says10 Oct
Tigray
Fighting returned to the northern region three years after the Pretoria peace deal.
- Ethiopia Resumes Mekelle Flights on 11 October12 Oct
- Ethiopia Demands Eritrean Troops Leave Tigray7 Oct
- Tigray Drone Strike Kills at Least Eight at Camp6 Oct
- Ethiopian Troops Retake Mekelle Airport From TPLF3 Oct
Somalia and Somaliland
Somaliland seeks recognition while Somalia fights al-Shabaab and disputes its ports.
- Somalia Sexual Offences Bill Passes 132 to 315 Oct
- Somalia Sanctions 10 Over Al-Shabaab Links14 Oct
- Somalia Opposition Bloc of 3 Warns of Mogadishu Clash12 Oct
- Somalia Screens Flyers for Ebola After 1 Death in Kenya8 Oct
Sudan's War
The army and the RSF have fought since April 2023, with outside backers on both sides.
- Sudan Minerals Bill Sets 3 Tests for US Deal15 Oct
- South Sudan Convoy Attack Draws US Rebuke13 Oct
- Sudan Opens Jet Fuel Imports to All Firms on 12 October13 Oct
- Sudan Gold Miners Say Over 200 Died in Air Strikes12 Oct
Houthis and the Red Sea
Attacks from Yemen threaten one of the busiest shipping lanes between Asia and Europe.
- Ethiopia Red Sea Access Push Risks a Wider Horn Crisis6 Oct
- Suez Canal Revenue Still Far Below Peak, Egypt Says5 Oct
- Eritrea Explained 2026, a Red Sea Country Guide4 Oct
- Kenya Cooking Gas Prices Set to Rise After Red Sea Port Attacks22 Sep
Djibouti and the Bases
The small port state hosts the armies of the United States, China, France and others.
- Djibouti Rises to Tier 2 in US Trafficking Report10 Oct
- ATLS Plans Djibouti Fuel Rail Link to Ethiopia4 Oct
- Somalia and Djibouti Leaders Meet Amid Ethiopia War2 Oct
- Landlocked Ethiopia Starts US$660 Million Fuel Pipeline to Djibouti’s Coast25 Sep
The Nile Dam
Ethiopia's giant dam on the Blue Nile drives Egypt closer to Ethiopia's rivals.
- Sudan Drone Strike Kills at Least 30 at Blue Nile Camp10 Oct
- Egypt Denies Any Role in Ethiopia’s Northern Conflict3 Oct
- Egypt Expels Ethiopian Embassy Counsellor in 48 Hours2 Oct
- Sudan War Spreads to Blue Nile as RSF Claims Army Bases and Nearly 20,000 Flee4 Sep
What the Markets Say
Source: Polymarket, prices as of 15 October, 09:37 Lisbon. Market prices are bets, not forecasts by The Rio Times.
Latest From the Horn
- Ethiopia vs Eritrea: Who Would Win a War?15 Oct
- Eritrea Accuses Ethiopia at UN on 14 October15 Oct
- Sudan Minerals Bill Sets 3 Tests for US Deal15 Oct
- Somalia Sexual Offences Bill Passes 132 to 315 Oct
- Ethiopian Troops Reach Zalambessa by 13 Oct14 Oct
- Somalia Sanctions 10 Over Al-Shabaab Links14 Oct
- South Sudan Convoy Attack Draws US Rebuke13 Oct
- Sudan Opens Jet Fuel Imports to All Firms on 12 October13 Oct
- Somalia Opposition Bloc of 3 Warns of Mogadishu Clash12 Oct
- Ethiopia Resumes Mekelle Flights on 11 October12 Oct
- Sudan Gold Miners Say Over 200 Died in Air Strikes12 Oct
- Sudan Miners Report Air Strikes Near Egypt, 20 Wounded11 Oct
- Djibouti Rises to Tier 2 in US Trafficking Report10 Oct
- South Africa Seeks Survey of South Sudan Oil Block B210 Oct
- Ethiopia Drones Hit Eritreans on 8 October, ACLED Says10 Oct
- Sudan Drone Strike Kills at Least 30 at Blue Nile Camp10 Oct
- Uganda Says Exports to South Sudan Hit US$700 Million9 Oct
- South Sudan Election 2026 Faces a Credibility Test8 Oct
- Somalia Screens Flyers for Ebola After 1 Death in Kenya8 Oct
- Sudanese Pound Slides to 8,800 a Dollar7 Oct