Dynamics of the Horn of Africa Diaspora Examining the Horn of Africa's Diaspora in Europe can better highlight the dynamics of conflict and peace in the native countries. Climate Change and Environment © Shutterstock Recently making headlines once again is the Horn of Africa, which includes the countries of Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. This region has been plagued by political unrest since 1991 when the Somali government was overthrown in the midst of a civil war. In addition to the conflict, the Horn has been stricken by poverty, disease, drought and famine. Since a large part of Somalia is not accessible to humanitarian aid, refugees have fled for their lives resulting in a Diaspora of over two million across Europe alone. With this in mind, the EU-funded 'Diasporas for peace: patterns, trends and potential of long-distance diaspora involvement in conflict settings. Case studies from the horn of Africa' (Diaspeace) project involved case studies from the Horn of Africa in order to shed light on the role that Diaspora plays on both conflict and peace in the home country. Seeking to formulate information that is both based on evidence and directly related to policy, the three-year project used a multi-layered approach. More specifically, gaps in research were pinpointed followed by a comparative empirical assessment and field research that spanned seven European and two African countries. Interaction among Diaspora communities has been positive and an interactive online database has supported measures to build peace and resolve conflict. Cooperation seminars that began in the Netherlands in 2009, academic publications and local development activities are all progressive movements toward further understanding the dynamics of Diaspora in a globalised world.
