Human Security Challenges in the Horn of Africa and the Precarious Contours in Managing Regional Security Problems

Abstract

The horn of Africa, houses the people and region where crises, famine, drought, food insecurity and human insecurity had consistently taken a great toll of lives, a region, at the strategic importance of the world and African politics. With long history of people dominated from outside by forces operating at the global level that had made it to face a critical human security challenges that have strangled its regional strength and history of existence. This enclave, where the menace of AL-Shabaab terrorist group, sea pirates, inter-state feud, food crisis and the heinous role of al Qaeda had placed it a risk zone, thereby becoming a problematic issues in African security trust, deserves investigation. This study, situated on national interest model of power framework, utilized secondary data, descriptive and analytical approach. The study noted that human security as regarding civil rights and rights of competitive equality is at danger in the region. The study observed that over one-third (1/3) of African states seems not to be free with the horn of Africa at home with five (5) human insecurity problems. The study revealed that the level of insecurity in the Horn of Africa puts the continent on grievous time bomb. The study suggests operational enhancement of the African high command and NEPAD in tackling the growing threats to human security particularly in the Horn of Africa.