EU Special Representative Weber speaks to members of the Bundestag on current developments in the Horn of Africa

At a parliamentary breakfast with members of the German Bundestag on February 21, the EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, Dr. Annette Weber, provided information on current developments in the region. Whether the war in Sudan, the situation in Somalia, the agreement between the Ethiopians and Somaliland for port access or the current escalation in the Red Sea - the many challenges and conflicts in the Horn of Africa were the subject of lively discussion. The focus was on what Germany and the EU can do to support peace efforts and contribute to the stabilization of the region.

An overarching problem in the region is that a regionally led, inclusive mechanism for cooperation is still lacking. The Red Sea Council, which was actually established for this purpose - and supported by Germany - could be such a body, but is still not functional. Although the EU's Aspides maritime mission, which was adopted on Monday (and discussed in its first reading in the Bundestag today), can only be one part of a larger diplomatic, regionally-led initiative, it is an important "trigger" for the EU and its member states to engage more intensively with the situation in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa. ZIF published a compact on Aspides this week: Robust in the Red Sea?

The event was hosted by Jürgen Coße (MP), the SPD parliamentary group's rapporteur for the Horn of Africa, in cooperation with ZIF. In addition to members of the Bundestag, research assistants from MPs' offices and parliamentary groups as well as representatives from several departments took part.

As part of parliamentary briefings, ZIF regularly works with parliamentary offices to offer MdBs an exclusive and confidential space for discussions with senior staff from international missions.