The Horn of Africa stands at a crossroads and two countries, Kenya and Ethiopia, hold the compass. For years, these neighbours have been described as “friendly rivals,” each vying for economic and diplomatic dominance in the region. But as global interests converge on the Horn, from Red Sea security to climate diplomacy and trade, a new conversation is emerging: What if collaboration, not competition, became their shared strategy?
Recent reflections from Modern Diplomacy, suggest that partnership could unlock a new era of regional progress. Both nations have robust economies, strategic geography, and growing diplomatic networks. Kenya is a major hub for finance, diplomacy, and innovation, while Ethiopia boasts one of Africa’s fastest-growing populations and a strong manufacturing base. Together, they could drive a renaissance for the Horn, from Mombasa to Mekelle.
President William Ruto with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia.
However, recent tensions, over trade routes, influence in Somalia, and control of key infrastructure corridors, have exposed the costs of competition. When borders tighten and ambitions clash, ordinary citizens lose opportunities. Regional projects stall, and security cooperation weakens just when threats like climate shocks and cross-border conflicts demand joint responses.
Partnership makes practical sense. A coordinated Kenya-Ethiopia strategy on logistics could transform the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor into a true gateway for regional trade. A united diplomatic front could also amplify the Horn’s voice in forums like the African Union and IGAD, strengthening regional responses to crises in Sudan and the Red Sea.
H.E. Ahmed Shide, Minister of Finance, Ethiopia and Kenya's Hon. Cyrell Odede Wagunda, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Investment and Assets Management at the National Treasury
For African diplomats and policymakers, the question isn’t whether Kenya and Ethiopia can lead, it’s how they will lead. The two nations could model a new type of African diplomacy: one rooted in shared prosperity, mutual respect, and pragmatic collaboration rather than zero-sum politics.
The next chapter of Horn diplomacy doesn’t have to be written in rivalry. It can be co-authored in Nairobi, Addis Ababa, and every border town where people are ready for peace, not politics.