The Horn of Africa has come to symbolize the extremes of human suffering as the region has endured repeated disasters: wars, drought, famine, mass refugee movements and environmental decline.

In the 1990s critical changes took place in the Horn: Ethiopia's military government was deposed, ending Africa's longest war; Eritrea emerged as Africa's newest independent nation; Somalia collapsed, requiring international intervention to deliver food to a population menaced by feuding warlords; and ethnic conflict split Sudan as millions starved. What do these changes entail for the peoples of the Horn?

1. This book explains the historical and political background to these crises and outlines the prospects for development in the region. Experts on the Horn cover a broad range of topics, including ethnic conflict, humanitarian intervention, gender and refugees, food security, the survival of pastoralism, the future of independent Eritrea, operations of intelligence agencies and the possibilities for regional cooperation.