The Horn of Africa reacts to the Middle East war

On February 28, the USA and Israel began a campaign of airstrikes and bombardment across Iran amid negotiations between the USA and Iran. The campaign began, extraordinarily, just hours after a key mediator, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Oman’s foreign minister, told Margaret Brennan of Face the Nation on CBS News that “the peace deal is within our reach.”

The operation, codenamed Epic Fury and operation Roaring Lion, was described by U.S. and Israeli officials as targeting Iran’s military, missile, and nuclear infrastructure. According to U.S. officials, the operation aimed to “dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus”. Additional objectives included destroying ballistic missile arsenals and production sites, degrading broader military capabilities such as naval forces and government-linked defense installations, and weakening Iran’s regional proxy networks and affiliated militant groups.

Initial casualty reports indicated that at least three American soldiers were killed and five were wounded during early combat operations, with additional personnel sustaining minor injuries. Iranian losses were described as significant, particularly among leadership and military ranks, though precise figures were not immediately available and remained subject to revision. Subsequently, Iran launched retaliatory strikes across the region, sending waves of ballistic missiles and drones across multiple areas, including several Gulf countries.

In light of these developments, leaders across the Horn of Africa have issued statements condemning Iranian strikes targeting several Gulf and Arab states, warning of the risk of wider regional escalation and calling for urgent diplomatic intervention.

In Nairobi, William Ruto said Kenya “strongly condemns the strikes on the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain in the evolving conflict in the Middle East.” In a post published on his official account on X, Ruto described the expanding scope of the conflict as a global concern.

“It is evident that the regionalisation of this conflict poses a grave threat to international peace and security,” he wrote. “At this defining and perilous moment in global history, longstanding multilateral institutions remain indispensable frameworks for the resolution of the current crisis in the Middle East. Kenya calls for urgent multi-stakeholder engagement towards de-escalation.”

Djibouti also issued a condemnation, describing the attacks as violations of sovereignty. In a statement, the government of Djibouti said it “firmly condemns the Iranian attacks and aggressions against Arab countries, which constitute flagrant violations of the sovereignty of these nations that call for peace and do not participate in the war.”

Djibouti declared its “total solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Kuwait, the State of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the State of Bahrain, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,” adding that it supports “all actions they undertake for their self-defense and the protection of their populations.” The statement further noted that Djibouti “recalls its consistent position against the use of force and condemns the outbreak of hostilities while serious negotiations were underway under the auspices of the Sultanate of Oman,” and called for “de-escalation and a return to the negotiating table.”

Somalia’s foreign ministry echoed similar concerns. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Somalia said it “strongly condemns, in the strongest terms, the Iranian attacks and assaults that targeted a number of brotherly Arab countries, which constitute serious and flagrant violations of the sovereignty of those states.”

Somalia affirmed its “full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the Sultanate of Oman,” and expressed support for measures taken “within the framework of their legitimate right to self-defense, safeguarding their security, protecting their peoples, and preserving the integrity of their territories.” The ministry reiterated “its firm position rejecting recourse to the use of force” and affirmed “its continued full support for all efforts aimed at promoting dialogue, diplomacy, and peaceful solutions.”

Sudan’s Foreign Ministry has also issued a strong condemnation of Iran’s missile strikes against Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, but deliberately left out the United Arab Emirates from its statement. This omission highlights Sudan’s strained relations with Abu Dhabi, which Khartoum has repeatedly labeled a “hostile state” for allegedly supplying the Rapid Support Forces with advanced weaponry.

Authorities in Somaliland also released a statement condemning what they described as “Iranian strikes targeting the United Arab Emirates, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.” The government said Somaliland “stands in full solidarity with Arab Gulf countries and rejects this unprovoked aggression, which threatens regional peace and stability.”

Regional responses to the recent escalation have largely aligned with broader international reactions. Although no official statement had been issued by the Government of Ethiopia at the time of writing, these statements reflect heightened concern over the potential for the crisis to widen beyond its immediate geographic scope. The Horn of Africa and the broader Red Sea corridor have increasingly become arenas of strategic competition, particularly among Gulf states seeking to expand their political, economic, and security influence. Rivalries involving countries such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar have, over the past decade, extended into parts of East Africa through investments, military partnerships, port agreements, and diplomatic alignments. As a result, the region is deeply interconnected with developments in the Middle East.

Given these dynamics, any significant escalation involving Iran and the wider Middle East is likely to carry direct implications for the region. Economically, disruptions in maritime trade routes, particularly through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, could affect export-import flows, energy supplies, and foreign investment patterns. Politically, governments may face increased pressure to clarify their diplomatic positions, potentially navigating complex relationships with competing Gulf and Middle East powers.